Acceleration of dissemination of Mandarin Citrus (Cv. Batu 55) superior variety in supporting import substitution

Abstract

Currently, the supply of national citrus has not been able to meet domestic needs, especially for yellow citrus which was still dependent on imports. The trade balance of Indonesian citrus always deficit, in 2018 Indonesian citrus exported amounted to 1,220 tons and the number of imported was much higher reaching 85,273 tons. The government’s future program was directed to produce yellow citrus which termed “keprokisasi” in the context of import substitution. Indonesian Center for Horticulture Research and Development (ICHORD) have produced superior varieties of mandarin citrus namely Batu 55, which have characteristics that are seemly with consumer, even it is considered superior to imported citrus in freshness. To increase the population of Batu 55, in 2018-2019 the Ministry of Agriculture has distributed 38,450 disease-free seedlings to growers in various regions in Indonesia. The study was to evaluate the program in the distribution of Mandarin citrus of Cv. Batu 55 superior variety. The results found that through the program can be estimated that in the next 4 years that the production will increase 481.55 - 1,284.13 tons, and it will have sustainability. At the age of 11 years, the production ranges from 3,021.48 - 4,154.53 tons. For that reason, the development of the program can reduce the dependence on imported citrus.