The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) seems interested in developing soybean commodities in Blora Regency. This was raised by the presence of the Director of Various Nuts and Tubers, Ir. Yuris Tiyanto, MM., from the Directorate General of Food Crops, Ministry of Agriculture who made a working visit to Blora, Friday (11/2/2022). Upon arrival in Blora, Ir. Yuris Tiyanto, MM., and his entourage were immediately received by the Regent H. Arief Rohman, S.IP., M.Sc., at his office. Accompanying the Head of the Food, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Service (DP4) of Blora Regency, as well as representatives of the management of the Blora Farmer-Owned Enterprise (BUMP). "Actually, we've been wanting to meet with the Regent of Blora to convey the opportunity for soybean development, but we were only able to meet face-to-face today. So we want to invite farmers in Blora to develop soybean plants as one of the leading commodities which is currently on the rise, while it is still early in the year," said Yuris Tiyanto. "Our local soybeans are of better quality than imported soybeans, but unfortunately the productivity of our local soybeans is still lacking, so to meet soybean needs, imports are carried out," he continued.
Therefore, Yuris then said that his party in 2022 was given the task of the central government, in this case, the Ministry of Agriculture, to develop local soybean plants covering an area of 650 thousand ha, so that the need for soybean imports can be suppressed. "From the target area of 650 thousand ha, 50 thousand ha of the budget is assisted by the government, and 600 thousand ha we provide assistance from banking KUR. Of which Central Java received a target allocation of 110 thousand ha. So we want to invite Blora to take part in it. Technically, we are ready to convey the stages to the service, and any farmer organizations that are ready to be assisted, "continued Yuris. According to him, to plant soybeans, there is no need to open new land or replace existing types of field crops. However, soybeans can be planted using the petuk or semi-intercropping system. "Blora is also the largest corn-producing area in Central Java after Grobogan, so this soybean can be developed using the pethuk system with corn. Farmers continue to grow corn, but can harvest soybeans. Like what the farmers in Grobogan have done," he said.
Meanwhile, for market clarity, his party has several channel companies engaged in soybean seeds and post-harvest processing. His party also encourages BUMP in Blora to become off-takers and implement the Warehouse Receipt System. Furthermore, another potential that can be developed together is IF (Integrated Farming) based on soybeans and corn. Considering that Blora is also the largest producer of cattle in Central Java, the soybean and corn leaves can be used as animal feed ingredients. Meanwhile, the livestock manure can be processed into organic fertilizer for planting soybeans and corn. "It is not impossible that in the future we can establish Soybean Village as well in Blora Regency," he explained.
Regent H. Arief Rohman, S.IP., M.Sc., welcomed the good intentions of the Director of Various Nuts and Bulbs from the Ministry of Agriculture. According to him, this is a good opportunity to collaborate with farmers in Blora Regency. "Thank you very much, Mas Yuris Tiyanto, who has come to Blora, bringing extraordinary opportunities for collaboration. He is an old friend of mine, and now finally able to stay in touch again. InshaAllah Blora is ready to welcome programs from the Ministry of Agriculture," said the Regent. The Regent said that it is true that the potential of soybean plants in Blora Regency is indeed being pushed back. His party asked the relevant agencies to map the potential of soybeans and potential areas for this development. “Our country really needs soybeans, especially if we don't eat tempeh for a day, it feels incomplete. Therefore, the opportunity to develop soybeans from the Ministry of Agriculture will be jointly responded to. This is Mas Farid from BUMP Blora, hopefully, later he will be ready to cooperate with other farmers. Please DP4 to be able to follow up on this opportunity," continued the Regent.
Meanwhile, the Head of DP4, drh. R. Gundala Wijasena, MP., said that soybean productivity in Blora Regency in 2021 reached 5229.43 tons, with a harvested area of 3325.5 ha. “The soybean fields are spread over 8 sub-districts. The widest is in Jati District, 1478.8 ha, then followed by Randublatung 1000 ha, Tunjungan 380 ha, Japah 192 ha, Ngawen 107 ha, Blora 95.8 ha, Bogorejo 69 ha, and Kunduran 2.9 ha, "said Gundala. “With this development opportunity from the Director of Aneka Nuts and Bulbs, we are ready to follow up. Because I personally have also wanted for a long time that Indonesia can also export soybeans, not only imports,” he explained. There are several parties who have the potential to join this soybean development opportunity, including farmer groups, forest village community institutions (LMDH), to farmers assisted by BUMP.
