UNS — Tofu and tempe became a hot topic early this year following their scarcity in the market. Although not the first time in the country, the scarcity was again caused by the reduced production due to the high raw materials, soybeans. Indonesia’s soybeans consumption is highly dependent on imports because of the low production yield of the local farmers. Imported soybeans accounted for more than 80% of the soybean consumption in Indonesia.
Amid the high price increase, the supply side also experienced a disruption with Brazil and Argentina fighting the drought caused by La Nina, which further affected the availability of soybean products in Indonesia. A faculty member in the Agrotechnology Program Faculty of Agriculture (FP) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Mercy Bientri Yunindanova, S.P., M.Si., explained that season highly affects agricultural conditions, like the condition experienced by Brazil and Argentina. Soybean production in the countries dropped due to the lack of water, which affects soybean growth. “After the flower, drought will cause empty pods. Therefore, water is a critical factor in soybean production,” she explained on Saturday (26/2/2022).
Mercy considers the increase in soybean price should serve as a momentum because it is likely that the price will continue to increase in the future. Soybeans are a highly sought agricultural product due to their extensive use, biodiesel materials, animal feed, high consumption in China and the US, and plant-based meat food production. High protein in soybean affects meat quality in livestock. Thus, it is highly sought as an animal feeding material. The high protein content in soybean also makes soybean crowned as a miracle crop.
Therefore, considering its place as the lowest cost protein source for the community, it is vital to increase soybean production using the appropriate agricultural method. From 2019 to recent years, Brazil has succeeded in taking the US place as the largest producer of soybean worldwide. Indonesia could learn from Brazil in applying a good agricultural management process through large-scale, standardized, and group-based cultivation. Brazil also applies soybean cultivation certification that ensures the quality, quantity, and continuity of production.
Local farmers produced lower quality and quantity of soybeans because plantations in Indonesia were conducted separately, in numerous places, and are not managed under one system, resulting in diverse yield qualities. The coordination from local farmer groups has not improved the quality and quantity of yields. “Productivity of soybeans in Indonesia is only around 1.5 tons per hectare and a maximum of 1.6 tons per hectare in Java. Compared to Brazil and the US as the leader with 3.5 tons per hectare,” Mercy explained.
Despite not being native to Indonesia, there are around 85 local soybean varieties developed from 1918 to 2016. Some were adjusted to the local terrains, such as tidal or brackish lands. However, the issue remains that there is no large and standardized cultivation with an average of 0.25-hectare cultivation lands that are vulnerable to pests and other environmental factors. After considering this condition, Mercy suggested that soybean cultivation in Indonesia needs extensive improvement. Additionally, local people also need to consider the consumption of other grains. “There are many local wisdoms on tempe,” she added. Although the introduction to the community has not been extensive, food diversity is better. Humas UNS
Reporter: Erliska Yuniar Purbayani
Editor: Dwi Hastuti