Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi has said that the use of off-farm and on-farm agricultural technologies could help strengthen national food security.

On-farm technologies include research technology and the production of superior seeds, he said at an online seminar on "Engineers' Support in Creating Food Sovereignty, Security, and Independence” on Thursday.

Here, superior seeds mean seeds that have high productivity, resiliency against disease-causing pests, and tolerance to environmental stress.

On-farm technologies also involve 5T (type, dose, time, method, and target accurate) fertilizing technology, which is based on a crop’s growth phase and uses rapid soil tests and drones.

Other on-farm technologies include drip irrigation and desalination technologies that can mitigate the fulfillment of plants' water needs in line with climate change.

Then, there is also precision farming maintenance technology, which involves the application of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and liquid complementary fertilizers (PPCs) based on needs in accurate doses.

Meanwhile, off-farm technologies include technologies for improving production and yield efficiency, technologies for improving crop added value, traceability in the supply chain, and technologies for extending food products' shelf life.

According to Adi, strategic food commodity handling should consider the characteristics and the shelf life of food products, including meat, onions, chilis, and eggs.

While Bapanas was only founded a year ago, it has managed to set up 19 cold chain facilities and infrastructures across Indonesia, he informed.

They comprise seven cold storages, three air blast freezer units, six reefer container units, and three heat pump dryers, he informed.

Bapanas will continue to develop cold chain facilities and infrastructures, especially in the eastern territory of Indonesia, he added.

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Translator: Aji Cakti, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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