SALIBU technology in Indonesia: an alternative for efficient use of agricultural resources to achieve sustainable food security

Abstract

SALIBU technology (rice ratooning modification) is an innovation in rice farming technology allowing ratoon crops to be harvested up to 3.5–4 times annually with a yield equivalent to that of the main crop. Although the practice of rice ratooning in Indonesia has a long history, SALIBU technology was invented as recently as 2010 by Mr. Erdiman, one of the co-authors of this paper. This technology is already well known by local farmers, who realize that with it, they need only sow and transplant once, and can then harvest repeatedly. Accordingly, it includes scope to reduce the time taken to cultivate paddies and the usage of water, seed and labor. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the SALIBU technology and to highlight its excellence in terms of its role in using agricultural resources efficiently. This paper also reviews several previous researches which become the basis of its innovations and development. One research was conducted by Erdiman et al. (2013) in several districts of West Sumatra Province related to treatments for: (1) stem-cutting height, (2) cutting timing and (3) dosage of NPK fertilizers. The research findings indicated that the optimum results in terms of productive tillers, number of grains per panicle and rice productivity came when the stem-cutting height was 3–5 cm above ground level and the stems were cut 7–8 days after harvesting and fertilizer dosage was 150 kg of urea and Ponska, respectively. Another experiment showed no significant difference in rice productivity among three agroecosystem zones namely highland, moderate and lowland for the application of SALIBU technology.