News

On February 1st, 2018, Prof. Dr. Ir. Suharsono DEA, Division Head of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Department of Biology, FMIPA IPB, conducted monitoring and evaluation of plantation of the new cultivars of potato in Pangalengan, Bandung. Three potato cultivars that planted in PT Agro Investama's Garden (PT AI), were Jala Ipam, IPB PAU1 (PAUS) and IPB CP1 (Sipiwan). Jala Ipam is used as raw material for frozen French fries (FFF), Sipiwan for potato chip production, moreover, PAUS is potatoes for soup, cake and side dish material. Potato cultivars Jala Ipam has stated one of 107 Prospective Indonesia Innovations in 2015 and Sipiwan cultivars as one of the 108 Prospective Indonesian Innovations 2016 provided by Business Indonesian Center (LIPI). Thanks to Jala Ipam, Prof. Suharsono received the Food Innovation Award from the Governor of West Java in 2015 and was awarded the Third Best Innovator at the National Innovation Competition organized by Tangsel Global Innovation Forum (NIC-TGIF) in 2016.
During the visit in Pangalengan, Prof. Suharsono together with partners from PT Amanah Prima Indonesia, Jakarta and CV BA Farm Bandung, did the first potato harvest of Jala Ipam in Pangalengan. Of the planting area of 0.7 ha ready for harvest, only 1500 m2 was harvested on that day with tuber production reaching 3.5 tons. Prof. Suharsono said that this activity is a form of triple helix ABC cooperation from 3 pillars of academician, business, and community.
On the same occasion, Prof. Suharsono checked the productivity of PAUS cultivars at 2.5 months of age by removing 1 stem from the planting area of about 0.3 ha. That "picking test" of one stem indicates that the PAUS cultivars have very promising productivity. One stem can produce 10 bulbs.
"In order to accelerate the production and limitations of seed production facilities and infrastructure, especially greenhouses, cuttings (cutting) are tested directly planted in the land of PT AI. In this way, the production of seed bulbs is expected to be accelerated", said Prof Suharsono.