Corn Growers In Probolinggo Ask For Transgenic Seed

Jember, East Java, Dec 23 (Antara) - Corn growers in the regency of Probolinggo ask for transgenic seeds to free them from the threat of plant diseases including borers, albino and weed. "We have heard there are such seeds that could resist the three plant diseases," Purnomo, speaking for the group of farmers in the village of Sumur Mati, sub-district of Sumber Asih, said on Tuesday. Purnomo said the farmers had used a number of farming methods and pesticides in a bid to eradicate the diseases but all failed. Attacks by borers could cause a 70 percent decline in production, albino is more disastrous causing a loss of up to 90 percent in harvest , he said. He told seed providers from CropLife Indonesia, weed could cause production to fall by 45 percent. "Pest spraying and weeding would result only in an increase production cost. There is only one harvest from three times of planting," he said. The farmers, therefore, strongly hope they could use transgenic seeds that they could increase their production and productivity. Purnomo said corn farmers in other areas in Jember and Banyuangi also had the same problem. He said harvest always failed in 40 percent of corn fields in those areas because of borer pest, albino disease and weed. Director of Indonesia Biotechnology Information Center (IndoBIC), Prof. Dr. Bambang Purwantara, told the farmers in Probolinggo that immediate adoption of transgenic corn seeds that are resistant to plant diseases. The director of SEAMEO BIOTROP said the use of transgenic seeds would also improve the environmental condition as too much use of pesticides is no longer needed to eradicate pests and plant diseases. Chairman of the Commission for Biological Security of Genetics Engineering Product Agus Pakpahan called for courage among the policy makers to apply biotechnology in food sector. He cited the United States has developed transgenic plants over 175 million hectares. The United States and Argentina have long used transgenic seeds for corn which Indonesia imports in large volume every year. "What is important is that we are careful in giving priority in the development of biotechnology-based plants and no longer rely on imports for transgenic-based food products," Agus said. . He hoped that the government would soon finish drafting the regulation on the use of transgenic seed of food crop. The government has not allowed the use of transgenic seeds for food crops in the country.