The Netherlands and Indonesia collaborate on the handling of Plant Pests in Potato Cultivation
East Java, 05 May 2018 -- Potato Cyst Nematode or PCN (Globodera Rostochiensis [Wollenweber] Behrens) is the most destructive nematode around the world (Marks & Rojancovski, 1998; Hodda & Cook, 2009). Globodera Rostochiensis is a broadly distributed species in tropical and subtropical parts of the world, including in Indonesia.
As the distribution of seeds expands, so is the distribution of Globodera Rostochiensis to the country. In Indonesia, Globodera Rostochiensis was identified for the first time in March 2003 in the potato-growing area in Batu, East Java province (Indarti et al., 2004)
Through the Agriculture Department of the Netherlands Embassy in Jakarta, the Agriculture Quarantine Agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture collaborates with The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and The Dutch General Inspection Service (NAK) to conduct a specific training on Detection and Identification of Potato Cysts Nematode in order to further study, best impede and conquer the spread of the PCN. The Training took place in two cities of East Java Province in Indonesia, Batu and Surabaya, on 30 April 2018 – 04 May 2018, where officers from various agriculture quarantine offices as well as plant protection offices in Indonesia participated in the event.
After the PCN samples were collected from several locations in Batu city, they were further analyzed in the quarantine lab in Surabaya city. The Dutch experts advised on several measures to be taken in controlling PCN and Phytophthora in the potato sector in Indonesia, inter alia 1) good Phytosanitary management (including knowledge of experts), 2) crop rotation and 3) the introduction of new varieties seed potato that are resistant for PCN and Phytophthora.
Sharing of knowledge and transfer of expertise on contemporary methodologies by Nematology experts from the Netherlands, Mr. Jos van Meggelen and Mr. Mario van Sabben (NVWA) as well as Mr. Jan Luimes (NAK) has enlightened the participants to be more innovative and to think out of the box. It is hoped that possible introduction of new Dutch seed potatoes varieties with resistance to PCN into Indonesia will contribute greatly to control the PCN challenges in the country. These approaches will be further discussed in order to essentially setup national control regulations and/or inform the agriculture private actors to control the indicated pests from spreading.
