The need for imported soybeans in the tofu and tempeh industry is a challenge in reducing import dependence. The price of imported soybeans that competes with local is the cause of its limited availability to farmers. Many soybean farmers are currently shifting their commodities to corn. The government's efforts to target 1 million tons of soybeans this year to meet the needs of the tofu and tempeh industry must also be carried out through various breakthroughs. One of the breakthroughs introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture is the Soybean Methuk Corn system. The agricultural sector has long known the term Soybean Methuk Corn, which is the pattern of growing soybeans when the corn is 80-90 days old. So when the corn is harvested, the soybeans are about one month old. About 45 days later soybeans can be harvested. The word "methuk" comes from the word "pethuk" in Javanese which means to meet in the active form "methuk" means "to pick up". After that, the second corn planting can be done. Initially, farmers could only cultivate corn twice in the 1st and 2nd planting seasons, with this methuk system, farmers could plant soybeans in between. This is done by using the corn shoot pruning cultivation technique (mucuki) after the soybeans are 5-7 days old, aiming to protect the soybean seeds planted from rain and other disturbances.

Director-General of Food Crops, Suwandi, during an event with agricultural extension workers throughout Indonesia on Friday (11/3) explained, "It is necessary to encourage and give an illustration to farmers that previously we were able to grow soybeans of up to 1 million hectares." “We know that many soybean farmers have switched to corn, so the concept for farmers who are now planting corn, insert soybeans. We can learn from the examples in Kendal and Grobogan,” said Kelvin. According to Suwandi, with the methuk system pattern, the need for water is still helped from the rain, and this system has been running until now. This condition is suitable to be applied in areas managed by Perhutani, for example in Lamongan, Tuban, Ponorogo, and other areas. “And I asked extension workers to educate farmers. In Grobogan, the methuk system is carried out on IP400 dry land," he explained.
Suwandi explained, in Grobogan Regency there is an implementation of a methuk system called Methuk Jempolan (Methuk Jemput Tanam Pattern). An example of a cropping pattern, if the corn harvest is on January 20, then previously, on December 25, farmers planted soybeans and the soybean harvest is estimated to be on March 20. Before the soybean harvest, the corn is planted 10 days earlier, which is March 10. "So the system will follow suit. What needs to be conveyed is that with this pattern farmers will be very busy in the fields. Apart from rice fields, soybeans can also be planted on plantations, on the sidelines of the palm oil," continued Suwandi. Meanwhile, the Director of Aneka Kacang and Bulb, Yuris Tiyanto, conveyed the technicalities of planting the methuk system. "For the methuk system, the use of machines is indeed difficult. Our farmers are still harvesting using sickles. However, harvesting using grass cutters is still safe in my opinion," he explained. "Essentially, we are trying not to damage soybeans when carrying out the corn cropping system. Spacing also needs to be regulated. Indeed, there must be training for extension workers throughout Indonesia so that we don't have to wait too long because we have to plant soybeans in April-June," he said. Yuris.

The Ministry of Agriculture has now asked the Regional Heads (Governors and Regents) to form a Task Force for the Acceleration of Development and Provision of Local Soybeans at Provincial and District Levels to oversee plantations and access People's Business Credit for farmers. Today the soybean development policy has used a new model. We brought an off-taker to the field who directly buys the farmers' crops. For example, two days ago, PT Doa Bangsa Agribisnis as the off-taker has entered into a cooperation agreement with farmers in Sukabumi and Kuningan Regencies," said Yuris. However, Yuris also reminded farmers to maintain the quality of soybean yields as a form of commitment to mutually beneficial cooperation between farmers and off-takers. The soybeans must be completely clean, not mixed with soil or other materials. The success of soybean cultivation cannot be separated from the availability of seeds. The Ministry of Agriculture has prepared superior soybean seeds, namely Biosoy 1 and 2 from BB Biogen. In addition, there are shade-resistant soybean seeds, namely Dena 1 and 2. There are also Deja soybean seeds that are resistant to water-saturated grip, as well as drought-resistant Dering soybean seeds, and local soybean seeds such as Argomulyo, Anjasmoro, and Grobogan.

Source: https://mediaindonesia.com/ekonomi/477798/kementan-kenalkan-tanam-kedelai-dan-jagung-sistem-methuk