The role of institutions in enhancing farmer motivation to carryout corn seed production under corporation system

Abstract

A farmercorporation-based seed production system is needed to bring seeds closer to farmers. Its developmen requires support from several institutions related to the policy of providing seeds for farmers. This study aims to determine the role of the institution in the farmer-based hybrid maize production system. Five institutions evaluated for their role, namely Indonesian Cereals Research Institute (ICERI) as a source of seeds and technology, Assessment for Agricultural Technology (AIAT) as aassistence for application technology in the field, Agricultural Service Office as a policymaker in available seed for farmer, Seed Certification and Inspection Center (SSO) as the supervisor of seed quality, and the grower local as an absorber of the results by farmer groups. The role of the institution is observed through: socialization activity, field observations, and discussions. The results showed that all institutions have gave various supports. ICERI has provided seeds in a timelymanner, the right quality and the right quantity, and also conducts regular training and monitoring to provide instructions for implementing good technology application to farmers and by farmers it is considered very good. AIAT provides field assistance for the application of production technology, but the activities are considered by farmers to be inadequate, the staff of Agriculture Service continue to motivate farmers and farmers are deemed adequate. SCIC as a seed supervisor continues to assist farmers in the field, in addition to monitoring irregularities, it also continues to provide guidance to farmers in accordance withthe standar operational procedure of hybrid maize seeds and is considered very good by farmers. Then the seed producers who absorb the results of the farmers have carried out excellent guidance such as placing quality control personnel in the field to control implementation, absorbing farmers’ products at an agreed price, building a processing unit in the site area, and by the farmers it is considered very good. With adequate support from related institutions, farmers continue to be motivated to produce hybrid maize seeds, which were originally only 100 ha in Minahasa district, then expanded to surrounding districts, sothat the area production increase from 253,4 ha in 2019 to 480 ha in 2020.