Indonesia

Country information

Borneo Tall (BONT) (Image: J. Oliver)

Indonesia comprises 17,508 islands with an estimated population of around 237 million people. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Malaysia. Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of coconut (producing 17 million tons (FAOSTATS 2007) and thus considers the crop as a national strategic
commodity.

Research on coconut palms was initiated during the Dutch colonial period and formal research institutionally started in 1911. This involved collecting some coconut ecotypes in the surrounding areas of Java. From 1926 to 1927, Dr Tammes, a coconut scientist, identified and selected 100 high-yielding Tall palms from populations in the Mapanget District of North Sulawesi. These palms were planted at the Mapanget Experimental Garden of the Indonesia Coconut and Other Palmae Research Institute (ICOPRI). After Indonesia gained independence in 1945, coconut research activities were maintained by the government.

The International Coconut Genebank for Southeast and East Asia (ICG-SEEA) is hosted by the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (AARD) using the field genebank in Pekanbaru, Riau Province and experimental gardens in Manado, North Sulawesi. In July 1995, a COGENT Task Force evaluated the  proposed site at Sikijang Mati, Pekanbaru, Riau Province in Central Sumatra. The Task Force found it generally suitable and made some suggestions for its improvement. Due to the financial crisis in 1997 and the resulting lack of government budget, the Sikijang area was developed too slowly and the remaining areas were squatted by surrounding inhabitants and migrants. Two extension ICG areas have therefore been identified: the Paniki Experimental Garden (100 ha) located beside ICOPRI office in Manado, and the Pandu Experimental Garden (80 ha) which is about 18 km from the ICOPRI office and belongs to the Balai Pengkajian Teknologi Pertanian (BPTP).

More info: Conserved coconut germplasm from Indonesia (2.9MB); Part 2 (1.7MB); Part 3 (1.6MB); Part 4 (1.8MB); Part 5 (1.9MB); Part 6 (1.2MB)

Collaborative Activities between BIOVERSITY/COGENT and Indonesia

1. Capacity Building

a) Technical assistance/expert advice
From 1995 to 2005, 11 specialists have visited Indonesia to help the country in its coconut PGR activities. These include identifying a suitable site for the International Coconut Genebank for Southeast Asia (ICG-SEA), collecting leaf samples for electron microscopy detection of mycoplasma, identifying marketable alternative products for coconut as well as suitable varieties for these products, evaluating COGENT’s collecting and conservation strategies, assessing pest risk and evaluating the progress of the ICG and assisting in the installation of equipment for feasibility studies.

b) Training and human resources development
Four training courses were held in the country, attended by a 52 researchers representing 9 countries. The training courses were hosted by the Research Institute for Coconut and Palmae (RICP) and funded by the ADB.

BIOVERSITY-COGENT sponsored 22 local researchers and specialists for staff development training in coconut data analysis, coconut collecting and conservation, embryo culture, technical writing/ seminar presentation and proposal writing, the use of the microsatellite kit and Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities; Markets and Market Development; and and Coconut embryo culture to improve collecting and safe movement of germplasm.

c) COGENT meetings/workshops
In 1996 and 1997, three meetings and one workshop were conducted in the country under the auspices of COGENT.

2. Research Projects

There are a total of 27 projects that have been conducted in the country under COGENT, which are implemented by RICP, CRIEC, ICECRD.

3. Financial Support and Funding

Donor funding for projects in Indonesia amounts to US$ 219,450 with counterpart funding from the national government amounting to US$ 215,272. Donor agencies include ADB, APCC, DFID and IFAD.

4. Summary of Activities and Accomplishments, Indonesia

Prepared by:
Yeow Giap Seng, COGENT Programme Assistant