VID 20250614 085348

Summary

In this interview with Agus Bis, coordinator of the Cilangkap Hydroponic Center, he discusses the process of cultivating melons in Indonesia. He explains the various stages from seedling to harvest, highlighting key challenges such as pests and diseases that affect melon plants. Agus also shares insights into the role of the center in education, as it serves both as a tourist attraction and a source of agricultural knowledge. He emphasizes the importance of disease prevention and control, while expressing interest in technological solutions for early disease detection in plants.

Takeaways

• 😀 Agus Bis is the coordinator at the Cilangkap Hydroponic Center Garden, under the Maritime Food and Agriculture Security Service of DKI Jakarta Province.
• 😀 The Cilangkap Hydroponic Center focuses on cross-cropping and hydroponics as part of the effort to produce high-quality vegetable plants, including melons.
• 😀 The center has been cultivating melons since 2009, initially planting varieties such as rock melon (Manista), followed by Hanido and golden melons.
• 😀 Melons are grown up to three times per year, depending on the variety and growing conditions.
• 😀 The hydroponic center serves both as a commercial farm and an agro-tourism site, offering educational programs about melon cultivation.
• 😀 Melons are sold in Jakarta and surrounding areas, in addition to being used in educational programs for schools, government agencies, and private sectors.
• 😀 Common diseases affecting melons include pests like leaf miners, caterpillars, and aphids, as well as fungal infections like powdery mildew and viral attacks on shoots.
• 😀 Melon plants typically take 12 days to germinate and another 65 to 80 days after transplanting to be ready for harvest, depending on the variety.
• 😀 Early disease prevention and timely control are critical to avoid crop failure, with fungicides being a common treatment for fungal infections.
• 😀 Agus sees great value in an automatic disease detection system that uses photos to identify plant diseases, though current available tools are not yet perfect.

Q & A

What is the role of Agus Bis in the Cilangkap Hydroponic Center?

Agus Bis is the coordinator of activities at the Cilangkap Hydroponic Center, which is part of the Center for Seed Development and Plant Protection under the Maritime, Food and Agriculture Security Service of the DKI Jakarta Province.

Can you explain the planting process of melons at the Cilangkap Hydroponic Center?

The melon planting process at the Cilangkap Hydroponic Center involves several stages: seeding, transplanting, maintenance, harvesting, and marketing. These steps are crucial in producing high-quality vegetable plants.

How long does it take to cultivate melons from seeding to harvest?

From seeding to transplanting, it takes around 12 days. After transplanting, it takes about 65 to 80 days for melons to be ready for harvest, depending on the variety.

What are the most common diseases and pests that affect melon plants?

The most common pests are leaf miners, caterpillars, and aphids. Diseases like powdery mildew, stem rot, and fruit rot can also significantly affect melon plants.

How does the Cilangkap Hydroponic Center manage its harvest?

The center's melons are part of agro-edu tourism, meaning they are sold to the public around Jakarta but also serve an educational purpose. Visitors are taught how to cultivate melons and other agricultural practices.

What is the impact of diseases on melon plants?

Diseases like powdery mildew and viruses can severely impact melon plant growth. If left untreated, they can cause the plants to wither and die, which would lead to crop failure.

What preventive measures does the Cilangkap Hydroponic Center take to avoid disease outbreaks?

Prevention is key at the center. They use early detection and apply appropriate fungicides or pesticides as soon as pest or disease presence is detected, particularly when more than 5% of the plants show signs of infection.

How does the Cilangkap Hydroponic Center deal with infected plants?

Once a plant is infected, the center conducts a condition analysis to determine the level of attack. They then apply fungicides to control the spread of the disease and prevent further damage.

What melon varieties are cultivated at the Cilangkap Hydroponic Center?

The center initially started with the rock melon variety (Manista), then gradually introduced other types such as Hanido and golden melons. These varieties are commonly cultivated throughout the year.

Why does Agus Bis believe an automatic disease detection system would be beneficial?

Agus believes that an automatic system capable of detecting diseases through photos would be very useful for quick and accurate diagnosis, helping to mitigate disease spread early. While such systems are available, they are often inaccurate or incomplete.