[Improvement of technology for corn farming in North Sulawesi (Indonesia)]

English. Assessment improvement of technology for corn farm practices was conducted in Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi at 1997/1998 planting season. Assessment was conducted in dryland on farmer's with areas of 30 ha. The objectives of the assessment were efficiency of corn farming technology, introduction of superior varieties, plant density and manuring. Three technology packages were evaluated: a. Introduced technology by Bisma superior variety, with population of 62.500 plants/ha, plant spacing at 40 cm x 80 cm by dibbling, 2 plants/hill, fertilization of 200 kg urea + 100 kg SP-36 + 50 kg KCl/ha; b. Improved technology is Bisma Superior Varieties, with population of 62.500 plants/ha, plant spacing at 40 cm x 80 cm by dibbling, 2 plants/hill, fertilization of 150 kg urea, 75 kg SP-36 + 25 kg KCl/ha; c. Farmer's technology is Manado Kuning local variety, with population of 50.000 plants/ha, planted on the plough line with plant spacing of 50 cm x 100 cm, 2 plants/hill, fertilization of 100 kg urea + 50 kg SP-36. Assessment results indicated that the average yield of corn on farmer's technology was only 1.92 t/ha, therefore, improved technology produced yield 4.18 t/ha or 17 percent more than farmer's technology, and with the introduced technology produced top yield 5.15 t/ha or 168 percent more than farmer's technology and 23.20 percent more than improved technology. Economic analysis indicated that bring the profit to introduction technology Rp. 2.688.750/hectare, then followed repaired technology Rp. 2.119.125/hectare and farmer technology Rp. 676.500/hectare. The few factors can influence the succeed of assessment are the optimal support from espionage, prepared of fertilizers, pesticide, good seeds, easy to get credits, the worker's income high enough, the seed corn ruler and still conventional

unknown. Pengkajian perbaikan teknologi usahatani jagung dilaksanakan di desa Sumarayar dan Tempang, Kecamatan Langowan, Kabupaten Minahasa pada MT. 1997/1998. Pengkajian dilakukan pada lahan kering milik petani dengan luas sekitar 30 ha. Tujuan pengkajian adalah merakit paket teknologi usahatani jagung yang efisien dan terlanjutkan dengan mengintroduksi varietas unggul, jarak tanam dan pemupukan. Paket teknologi yang dikaji adalah teknologi introduksi, teknologi diperbaiki dan teknologi petani. Paket teknologi introduksi adalah varietas unggul Bisma, tanam tugal, jarak tanam 40 x 80 cm (populasi 62.500 tanaman/ha) pupuk Urea 200 kg + SP-36 100 kg + KCl 50 kg. Paket teknologi diperbaiki yaitu varietas unggul Bisma, tanam larikan, jarak tanam 40 x 80 cm (populasi 62.500 tanaman/ha), pupuk Urea 150 kg + SP-36 75 kg + KCl 25 kg/ha. Paket teknologi petani adalah varietas lokal Manado Kuning, tanam larikan, jarak tanam 50 x 100 cm (populasi 40.000 tanaman/ha), pupuk Urea 100 kg + SP-36 50 kg/ha. Hasil pengkajian menunjukkan penggunaan teknologi petani memberikan rata-rata hasil jagung paling rendah yaitu 1,92 t/ha. Penerapan teknologi diperbaiki memberikan rata-rata hasil 4,18 t/ha atau 117 persen lebih tinggi dibandingkan varietas lokal sedangkan dengan teknologi introduksi hasil jagung meningkat 5,15 t/ha atau 168 persen lebih tinggi dibandingkan teknologi petani. Analisis ekonomi menunjukkan bahwa kontribusi keuntungan diperoleh pada teknologi introduksi sebesar Rp. 2.688.750/ha, diikuti teknologi diperbaiki sebesar Rp. 2.119.125/ha dan teknologi petani Rp. 676.500/ha. Beberapa faktor dapat mempengaruhi keberhasilan pengkajian antara lain dukungan penyuluh yang optimal, pengadaan sarana produksi yang memadai, kemudahan memperoleh kredit, mekanisme pasar yang sehat dan partisipasi aktif petani. Disamping itu kurangnya tenaga kerja, upah buruh cukup tinggi, alat pemipil jagung terbatas dan masih tradisional