The Jaringan Masyarakat Tani Indonesia (JAMTANI) and the Asosiasi Penangkar Benih Kentang Pangalengan (Pangalengan Potato Seed Growers Association) are engaged in the production of healthy potato seeds in Indonesia.
It begins not in the soil, but in a laboratory — with tissue culture.
Through careful and controlled techniques, disease-free plantlets are developed and nurtured into Generation-0 (G-0) seeds. These young plants are transferred into screen houses, where they are protected from pests and external contamination. Here, the mother seeds are closely monitored. Inspectors from the Seed Certification Agency regularly visit to ensure that every plant meets strict quality standards.
Inside the screen house, rows of vibrant green potato plants grow under watchful care. After months of proper maintenance — careful spacing, adequate nutrition, and strict pest and disease control — the first harvest takes place. These are the early generations of seed potatoes, the foundation of a long and meticulous 24-month breeding process that transforms mother seed into Generation-2 (G-2).
From the screen house, the seeds move to farmers’ fields for Generation-1 (G-1) cultivation. Farmers plant them in open fields, continuing the cycle of attentive care. They manage soil fertility, control pests and diseases, and ensure optimal growing conditions. Once mature, the potatoes are harvested — healthy, uniform, and promising.
The process does not end in the field.
After harvest, the seeds are transported to storage facilities. Once again, they undergo inspection by the Seed Certification Agency to verify their quality. The potatoes are carefully sorted and graded, ensuring only the best meet distribution standards. Each pack is labeled and prepared in 25-kilogram bags as certified Generation-2 seeds, ready to reach farmers across regions.
For Kustiwa Adinata, Chairman of JAMTANI, this journey reflects real progress.
“This is the result of potato seed breeding cultivation from Generation-1 to Generation-2,” he explains. “In the past, when the seeds were planted, they were small in size. But after harvesting, the potatoes are bigger.”
His observation highlights an important lesson: even small seeds, when healthy and properly managed, can produce large, high-quality tubers. The key lies in the factors that surround them — proper spacing, good maintenance, sufficient nutrients, and effective pest and disease control.
“When the seeds are healthy,” Kustiwa adds, “they can produce seeds of this quality.”
What began as tissue culture in a controlled environment ends as certified, high-quality seed potatoes in farmers’ hands.
Comments are closed