WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE OC

First of all let us raise our heart to render our humble thanks to God Almighty that we can gather in this hall in this nice weather in a friendly International atmosphere.

This gathering has an importing meaning for Horticulturists, who always work aiming at better quality of living of the human being. This is joint meeting, conducted by two Commission of the ISHS (International Society for Horticultural Science), namely the Commission for Tropical and Subtropical Crops and the Commission for Horticultural Economics. This meeting was already approved by Council of the ISHS in Florence at the 23rd International Horticultural Congress, in 1990. However, because of the postponement of our present meeting from June 1–4 to 23–26 due to General Election, there are some cancellations by participants who were previously interested in joining this meeting; they are unable to attend because there are concurrent meeting in Louvian, Belgium.

As the case in other Developing Countries Horticulture Development in Indonesia for human is important. Horticultural crops are important sources of vitamins and minerals. So many small farmers are engaged in the production process as well as in the marketing channels. Lately, after the energy crisis and due to changes in the production system in some temperate and subtropical countries, the role of Tropical Countries as Horticultural producers has become important. This makes Horticulture produce potential export goods from Developing countries.

This gathering in a Symposium discussing scientific papers of important findings in Vegetable Production should be benefit to people in Developing Countries, especially to the women in rural areas, through their active participation in its production not only in its income generating aspects, but also for countering urbanization problems. Since the profits of Horticulture producers are much determined by the effective demand by people, which reflects not only their real buying capacity but also their nutritional knowledge, we are also holding an exhibition on Nutritious Tropical Vegetables, for health and fitness. To dig into already existing traditional recipes, we conduct culinary contests by women Organization. We would like to share this precious moment with the participants from other countries, most of whom are women.

Some 37 participants are already recorded as active participants from abroad and 70 from Indonesia. ASEAN Countries, India, Srilangka, Egypt and some African countries are represented, participants from Australia, USA and Netherlands are also present as is the AVRDC.

We also offer Scientific excursions to some old traditional vegetable growing areas, as well as to some modern production systems, such as Hydroponic farms and a vegetable Seed Industry Experiment Station. A Social Evening, featuring cultural dances from West Java and Bali, will be held, to strengthen our mutual understanding and friendship between countries.

We hope all these happening will improve our network of cooperation between countries, between sectors, between scientists, business sectors and policy makers, which in the end will increase the production and quality of Horticultural produce, to give prosperity to all people.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Minister of Agriculture, The Junior Minister of Agriculture, The Rector of Bogor Agricultural University, The Dean of The Faculty of Agriculture and all sponsors that I can not state one by one, for all their kind help and provision to this Symposium. Especially to the ATA Project and The Netherlands Embassy, which

help us from the beginning, however due to special circumstances the letter has not materialized.

My thanks to all my fellow members of the Organizing Committee who have worked hard incessantly with patience and good will to make this gathering a reality.

Sri Setyati Harjadi


OPENING REMARK - THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of the governement of republic if Indonesia, I am pleased to welcome you to this very important Joint Symposium on Small Vegetable Production and Horticultural Economics in Developing Countries.

It is a real honor for us to be selected and able to serve as a host country for this Symposium. Therefore I would like to express my appreciation to the organizers of this Symposium for this strategic decision. I consider that the Symposium is very timely as we are entering into the second twenty five-year stage of development in which horticulture is expected to play a more important role. During the next twenty five years in line with the increase in population, income and educational status of people, the demand for horticulture products will be increasing. The increase in demand not only in terms of quantity, but also in terms of variability and most importantly in terms of quality that includes shape, taste, timing of delivery, vitamin content etc.

Distinguised participant, ladies and gentlemen.

I need hardly underline that vegetable are major food and nutrient supplement in daily diets of people of this most populous region of the world. Despite high importance of vegetable in developing countries, the contribution of vegetable to the nutrient supply of the people is relatively low. The symposium on Food and Nutrient in 1989 in Indonesia reported, that 1,64% of our youngsters are affected by Xerophthalmia or other eye disease due to vitamin A deficiency. Data collected by FAO in 1986 in Bangkok stated that during the past decade or so, the relative contribution of vegetables to the calories intake in the developing countries has decreased.

Dstinguised experts, ladies and gentlemen.

Permit me to briefly mention about the vegetable production situation in this region. Total vegetable production increased during the period of 1975 –1985. However, performance of the individual countries and the annual growth rate varied widely from < 2% to 3.3%

Average yield in most countries was rather low with wide variation in yield levels from countru to country. For instance while average yield of tomatoes in the Asia and Pacific Region was only 15 tons/ha whereas in the rest of the world as a whole it was about 26 tons/ha. At the same time a few countries in the region, such as Republic of Korea, Japan and New Zealand obtained yields between 30 to 60 tons/ha.

Based on what I have just described, it is obvious that there are striking differences in perfomance among individual countries. This diversity provides us with challenges as well as oppurtunities for lear vegetable only as a secondary source of income. In such a situation, their willingness to use more resources to their vegetable crops are relatively low, hence, creating how productivity.

The use of pesticides tends to be high creating serious hazards. It stimulated the development of resistance in insects and caused significant degree of environmental pollution. Therfore a new concept is formulated for more saver and efficient pest control: the Integrated Pest Management of IPM, which has been applie in Indonesia on rice since 1970's, and recently this concept has also been applied on vegetables production.

Distingueshed participants, ladies and gentlemen

In our attempt to encourage the promotion and improvement of vegetable production the availability of good quality seed is the most crucial one. At this stage of development, the seed production and distribution situation is far from satisfactory. What is more disturbing is the fact, that seed companies prefer to develop and produce hybrid vegetables seed, which could not be reproduced by vegetable farmers in developing countries. It would be more beneficial to home garden farmers if high quality open pollinated vegetable seed could also be made available, so that they can produce their own see. Therefore, I suggest that this symposium pays more attention on the status of production of vegetable seed, anayses the constraints, describe them on going research activities in selected countries and suggests possible solution to offset the constrains to increase and sustain production of vegetables. Special attention should also be given to see requirements for the home gardens. I am confident, the symposium would thoroughly examine this issue and helps develop a program frame which would help the developing countries in streamlining their vegetable seed production and distribution systems.

Each type of vegetable need specific climatic, agronomic and cultural condition. Most countries only possess a limited range of climates and soils condition. A country, therfore may not be able to grow a particular commodity or it may only grow in a certain region. However, even for produce which can be widely grown, most are seasonal. Seasonal harvest was observed for vegetables like potato, garlic and chili. This means that harvesting and hence market availability is restricted to a short period of the year. Hence, there is a need to obtain maximum utilization of indigenous vegetable and to maintain a satisfactory range of produce throughout the year.

An added problem for marketing of vegetables is their typical perishability. Not like other food such as food grains, horticultural produce is harvested in an active metabolic state resulting in rather limited period after harvest before becoming inedible. Storage life can be prolonged to some extent by reducing the rate of metabolism through the use of appropriate. as for improving the collective ability of the countries as a whole to strengthen their vegetable production and industries.

These three exercises, in my view, are extremely important as these would provide guidelines for specific action on part of the member countries and the two organizations: the International Society for Horticultural Science and the Indonesian Society for Horticultural Science.

Your well-considered views and guidance for establishing effective network or sub-networks would be greatly appreciated. I would like to extend my special thanks to the International Society of Horticultural Science for its kinds efforts in planning and arranging this important Symposium. My sincere appreciation is also directed to our Indonesian Society for Horticultural Science, who cooperated successfully in organizing this Symposium. Once again, I extended you all a hearty welcome and wish you a very fruitful and constructive symposium. On behalf of the Indonesian Government, I would like to assure you of our best efforts to make this symposium a great success.

Distingueshed participants, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure for me to be here with You to declare the "Symposium on Small Scale Vegetable Production and Horticultural Economics in Developing Countries" officially opened.

Thank you.

Minister of Agriculture,
Government of Indonesia

Ir Wardoyo