Community-Based Maize Seed Pmdudion: A Case Study of South Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggam, Indonesia

摘要

Maize productivity in Indonesia has increased directly with the adoption of high yielding varieties by farmers. In 1987, 26.66% of farmers grew high- yielding varieties with an average yield at the national level of 1.46t/ha. By 2002,75% of farmers grew high-yielding varieties with a national average yield of 3.09t/ha. However, in many villages, especially in the remote areas, farmers do not have access to good quality seed mainly due to high seed prices. Therefore, farmers mostly grow recycled seed from hybrids which has a lower seed price but also a lower yield potential. The solution is to increase farmer access to the high quality seed. The objective of this research was to accelerate the distribution of the new, high-yielding varieties through the establishment of an efficient community-based seed production system at the village level that could produce and provide high seed quality at an acceptable price to farmers. The research was conducted in two provinces, South Sulawesi from 2002 to 2004, and in West Nusa Tenggara from 2003 to 2004. The new high-yielding variety (cv. Lamuru) was increased at the community level by progressive farmers and distributed. The results indicated that local seed growers can produce certified seed which was distributed both locally and to neighbouring provinces. The seed that has been sold from seed growers in South Sulawesi was 57 tons in 2003 and increased to 92.5 tons in 2004, while from West Nusa Tenggara, the sold seed was 20 tons in 2004 and 3.0 ton in early 2005. Through the establishment of community-based seed production systems, the distribution of new, highyielding varieties can be accelerated.