Developing paddy variety with nuclear technology results in faster harvest time and better quality rice. (Image via Koran Kaltim)

Indonesia develops nuclear-powered rice

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Business & Industry
Agriculture& Livestock
Dec 06, 2019
2251
Indonesia’s National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) in Klaten Regency, Central Java, succeeded in developing two superior rice varieties, called Rojolele Srinar and Srinuk, from Rojolele variety with nuclear technology in Agro Techno Park (ATP) program.

BATAN’s Deputy Head of Nuclear Science and Technology Application, Efrizon Umar, revealed on Tuesday that nuclear-powered plant breeding results in shorter harvest time, from 165 days to only 110 days, and better quality rice.

Collaborating with the local government of Klaten, Efrizon and the team succeeded in improving Rojolele variety, resulting in two superior varieties that already got their certifications from Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture two months ago. With these two superior varieties, Efrizon claimed that the income of the Indonesian farmers will also increase as the rice productivity also increases from 6 tons to 10 tons/hectare.

BATAN also guides and supervises the nuclear-powered plant breeding in several ATP programs in Polewali Mandar in West Sulawesi, Klaten in Central Java, and Musi Rawas in South Sumatra.

Head of Klaten’s Development Planning Board (Bappeda), Suharna, said that Bappeda Klaten is preparing to distribute the seed of these superior varieties to the Klaten locals for them to plant. Moreover, Suharna also hailed the ATP programs with BATAN and hoped that more collaborations would be done for more innovations.

With shorter harvest time, shorter and pest-resistant body, the distribution of Rojolele Srinar and Srinuk is expected to be completed by mid-2020.

Source: https://bit.ly/2DSdPLm

Business , Agriculture , Livestock , Farm , Paddy , Science , Nuclear , Technology , Development , Innovation , ASEAN , Indonesia , BATAN , Java