<p>Sistem perbenihan kentang yang ada saat ini terdiri atas lima kelas benih, yaitu G0, G1, G2, G3, dan G4. Kelas benih G0 sampai G3 merupakan benih sumber, sedangkan kelas benih G4 merupakan benih sebar. Banyak penangkar, petani maupun stakeholder lainnya berpendapat bahwa proses produksi benih kentang dari kelas G0 sampai G3 cukup lama sehingga penyediaan benih untuk kentang konsumsi (G4) tidak dapat dilakukan secara cepat. Kegiatan penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui tingkat produktivitas kentang masing-masing kelas benih G0 sampai G4 agar dapat direkomendasikan sebagai kelas benih untuk kentang konsumsi. Penelitian dilakukan di Kebun Percobaan Margahayu Balitsa Lembang dari bulan September sampai November 2012 menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok dengan enam perlakuan, yaitu kelas benih (G0, G1, G2, G3, G4, dan kontrol) dan empat ulangan. Parameter yang diamati meliputi pertumbuhan tanaman, produksi, dan mutu produk. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kentang yang berasal dari kelas benih G3 menghasilkan produksi dan kelas umbi A dan B yang tertinggi sehingga cocok untuk benih sebar. Untuk peningkatan produksi ternyata kelas benih yang lebih tinggi (G0 dan G1) memiliki peningkatan produksi dan menghasilkan umbi kelas C dan D yang lebih tinggi daripada kelas benih di bawahnya sehingga cocok dikategorikan sebagai benih sumber.</p><p>Potato seed systems that exist today consists of five seeds classes, namely G0, G1, G2, G3, and G4. G0 to G3 seed is the source seed, while classes G4 seed was extension seed. Many breeders, farmers and other stakeholders argue that the process of seed production from G0 to G3 class was too long so that the supply of potatoes seeds for consumption (G4) could not be carried out faster. Research was conducted to determine the level of productivity of each class of potato seed G0 to G4 to be recommended as a seed class for potato consumption. The reseach was conducted at Margahayu Experimental Garden of Indonesian Vegetable Research Institute Lembang from September–November 2012 in randomized block design with six treatments : seed class (G0, G1, G2, G3, G4, and control) with four replications. The parameters observed were plant growth, production, and product quality. Hence, it can be concluded that potatoes derived from G3 class was quite suitable for extension seeds. The higher the seed class (G0 and G1) the higher the increasing rate and it produced higher number of C and D tuber grade.</p>

Untuk mengembangkan agribisnis kentang dalam negeri yang mempunyai daya saing tinggi sehingga dapat mengurangi ketergantungan impor, diperlukan adanya dukungan kebijakan dari pemerintah dengan melakukan promosi dan penyampaian informasi yang relevan kepada para pelaku usaha. Kecamatan Pangalengan, Kabupaten Bandung merupakan salah satu sentra produksi kentang di Indonesia. Daerah ini mampu memasok kentang hingga ke pasar ekspor sehingga  memegang peranan penting bagi daya saing kentang Indonesia di pasar global. Tujuan penelitian adalah mengevaluasi daya saing kentang di sentra produksi tersebut. Penelitian bersifat eksploratif dengan menggunakan data primer berupa data usahatani serta input dan output produksi kentang sentra produksi Pangalengan, Kabupaten Bandung. Data sekunder dikumpulkan dari BPS, Dinas Pertanian Kabupaten Bandung, Direktorat Jenderal Hortikultura, dan literatur-literatur lain yang menunjang. Data yang diperoleh dianalisis menggunakan <em>policy analysis matrix</em> (PAM). Dari hasil analisis diperoleh hasil bahwa pada skala usaha rerata per hektar biaya produksi kentang di Pangalengan sebesar Rp50.876.255,00 pada harga privat dan Rp48.270.838,00 pada harga sosial. Keuntungan yang dihasilkan sebesar Rp34.353.294,00 pada harga privat dan Rp18.948.129,00 pada harga sosial. Usahatani kentang di Pangalengan sangat layak untuk diusahakan dengan nilai R/C ratio sebesar 1,68 pada harga privat dan 1,39 pada harga sosial. Usahatani kentang di Pangalengan masih mempunyai keunggulan komparatif dengan nilai DRCR sebesar 0,36 dan kompetitif dengan nilai PCR 0,24. Usahatani kentang tidak lagi memiliki keunggulan kompetitif apabila harga output turun hingga 41% atau harga input naik 87%.

<p>Kabupaten Karo, Sumatera Utara merupakan sentra produksi kubis yang berkontribusi memberikan devisa negara melalui ekspor. Di samping itu, kubis dari Kabupaten Karo memiliki keunggulan dalam karakteristik produknya dibandingkan dari negara lain. Namun demikian, arti penting kubis sebagai penyumbang nilai devisa belum diikuti dengan perlakuan produksi, panen, pascapanen, dan pemasaran yang memenuhi standar ekspor. Pelaku agribisnis di dalam rantai pasar kubis semakin banyak, di mana awalnya petani menjual ke pedagang pengumpul, pedagang besar, dan langsung ke eksportir, namun sekarang terdapat pelaku baru seperti pedagang pengumpul desa, pedagang pengumpul kecamatan, kemudian kubis dijual ke pedagang besar. Hal ini memungkinkan terjadinya inefisiensi margin pemasaran di sepanjang alur pemasaran. Berdasarkan permasalahan tersebut, perlu dilakukan analisis rantai nilai komoditas kubis Kabupaten Karo untuk melihat keuntungan yang diperoleh setiap pelaku agribisnis kubis. Lebih lanjut dapat diberikan rekomendasi kebijakan untuk meningkatkan efisiensi dan keefektifan rantai pemasaran kubis di Kabupaten Karo. Penelitian dilakukan di Kabupaten Karo melalui wawancara langsung kepada pelaku agribisnis kubis pada tahun 2012. Pemilihan <em>sample</em> dilakukan secara <em>purposive</em> dengan pertimbangan bahwa jumlah pelaku agribisnis kubis tidak terlalu banyak. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ekspor kubis mengalami penurunan dari tahun ke tahun, karena lahan pertanian kubis yang semakin sempit. Kubis dengan nilai R/C yang tinggi menunjukkan tingkat keuntungan yang cukup besar. Dalam rantai pemasaran kubis, petani menerima pangsa yang cukup besar, sementara eksportir dengan kapasitas usaha yang besar juga menerima pendapatan yang seimbang. Sebagai implikasi kebijakan, pemerintah dapat memberikan dukungan dalam peningkatan ekspor berupa diseminasi teknologi budidaya untuk meningkatkan produksi serta fasilitasi ekspor baik sarana maupun prasarana pengangkutan dari lahan usahatani hingga pasar ekspor, perijinan ekspor serta bongkar muat di pelabuhan.</p><p>Karo District, North Sumatera is a production center of cabbages which provides significant contribution of foreign exchange. Moreover, cabbages in Karo have many advantages compare to cabbages from other countries. Nevertheless, these important roles of cabbages have not been followed by standardized exported treatments, not only the production, harvest, postharvest but also the marketing treatment. Agribusiness of cabbages also show inefficiency of the marketing margin. Based on these problems, it is necessary to analyze the value chain of cabbages in Karo, to see the benefit received by each person in agribusiness system. Further, policy recommendations can be given to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of cabbage supply chain in Karo District. This research was conducted through interviews people who in charge in cabbage agribusiness in 2012. The purposive sample was done considering that the number people in cabbage agribusiness were not too much. The results showed that cabbage exports, in term of value, decreased from year to year, particularly due to limited land. R/C analysis showed the high level of profit. In this cabbage supply chain, farmers receive considerable share, while the exporters with large business capacity also received a higher income. In order to increase production and export of cabbages, it is recommended that government supports several programs such as increase innovation technologies dissemination, improve infrastructures for export as well as develop the simple administration process.</p>

Fundamental issues in sustainable development of competitive potato production in Indonesia are production and distribution inefficiencies. This study aims to examine the potato production competitiveness through competitive and comparative analyses as well as evaluating the impacts of government policy on potato production. This study employs Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) to analyse the cross-section data collected from six regencies in Indonesia. Potato production in Indonesia was profitable privately and socially. The highest value of competitive advantage was indicated by PCR value in the dry season in Wonosobo Regency, Central Java Province. The lowest values were found in Bandung Regency. Highest comparative advantage was revealed in Tanah Karo Regency, North Sumatra Province, during the rainy season. Highest comparative advantage was found in Bandung Regency, West Java Province, in the dry season. However, the social profit was lower than the private profit indicating the potato farmers dealt with disincentives due to imperfect market. It implies that increasing domestic potato production will be more profitable rather than import. The policy makers need to evaluate the recent policies on input and output markets as well as the supply chain of potato to cope with imperfect markets in order to increase farmers’ income.

PurposeThis paper examines the labour demand associated with hybrid chilli adoption, a relatively labour-intensive crop in Indonesia.Design/production/approachUsing 228 chilli producing households in West Java Province, Indonesia’s primary chilli production region, the analysis extends previous research on household labour demand by assessing the impacts of hybrid chilli seed adoption on both family and hired labour on a gender-specific basis. Instrumental variables 2SLS approach is employed to address potential endogeneity that may occur related to hybrid seed choices.FindingsThe results demonstrate that hybrid chilli seed use is more likely to increase demand for hired labour, particularly female hired labour; However, hybrid seed adoption is insignificantly associated with demand for male and female family labour.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample size used in this paper is relatively small; however, the sample is chosen from the biggest chilli producing area in Indonesia and can still be considered reasonably representative.Social implicationsThe results indicate that hybrid seed adoption creates rural employment opportunities for rural women in Indonesia, which could potentially help empower them in rural economic activities and household decision making.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature assessing modern agricultural technologies by evaluating rural employment impacts on a source- and gender-specific basis, which is much less understood. It, therefore, complements the existing knowledge regarding welfare impacts in other aspects such as poverty reduction, food security and nutrition enhancement and suggests another dimension where desirable impacts may occur through associated women’s empowerment.