Palestinians Studying Hydroponics in Bandung, West Java

Bandung, W Java, March 1 (Antara) - Twenty Palestinian farmers and officials of the agriculture department are participating in training and studying programs on the hydroponic technique at the Lembang Agricultural Training Center, West Bandung district, West Java province. "The training will last for 20 days in Lembang and will focus on the hydroponic farming technique and packaging," Head of the Agricultural Training Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture Surachman Suwardi stated here on Tuesday. According to Suwardi, this training is a continuation of the agricultural training programs organized in the framework of the South-South cooperation since 1980. "In addition to holding the training in Indonesia, we are also sending our agricultural experts to foreign countries such as Madagascar, Timor Leste, Tanzania, and Fiji," Surachman noted. The participants from Palestine this time are the second group, after the first batch had participated in the same training program in 2013. The agricultural training covers theory and on-field practice along with visits to hydroponics research sites and the packaging center in Lembang. Idham I.P., one of the participants from Palestine, said he had immensely benefited from the program. "We are learning and practicing the hydroponic technique. Of course, this technique requires modification to be applied in our country. But principally, it could be applied in Palestine," Idham explained. He pointed out that ample information related to the hydroponic technique and packaging technologies had been developed in Indonesia, including data related to the processing of crops and markets. "The training curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of the participants. The focus for Palestinian participants is the hydroponic technique and packaging management. We also share experiences to make the training program more intensive," Affandi, the program's head, remarked. The Lembang Agricultural Training Center has several screen houses, including a biological agent laboratory for developing organic crops. The participants undertake practical work in the field and interact with the local people. Currently, the Lembang Agricultural Training Center has featured potatoes as its hydroponic product. The development of hydroponic potatoes has resulted in the G-0 seedling, which will then be planted to become G-1. "The hydroponic plants, which have been planted by the Palestinian participants, will later be given and preserved by the elementary school students in Lembang," Affandi stated. Since 1980, some 1,138 people from ASEAN countries, 584 from Africa, and 32 from South America have participated in the agricultural training programs in the framework of the South-South cooperation. ***3***