Agricom.id, CIMANGGIS - The qualified paddy seeds could be the guarantee to get optimal production. To know it, Ministry of Agriculture Indonesian Republic always tests the seeds. It is important to have accredited test laboratory because it has something to do with the result test.

The test result could be as the guarantee if it can be technically accounted for and based on the available regulations, such as what Balai Besar Pengembangan dan Pengujian Mutu Benih Tanaman Pangan dan Hortikultura (BB-PPMBTPH) Ministry of Agriculture has been doing that implements laboratory quality management system

Head of BB-PPMBTPH, Warjito in Cimanggis, on Sunday (21/11) told that the method and procedures of laboratory operational should be integrated, starting from the plans, test sample, test management until the rest result report to the customers.

“The laboratory should develop and implement the quality control and guarantee by making and maintain the quality management system which is adjustable with the kinds, scope, and volume of one activity. Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo always emphasized that these are important,” he said, as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

There have been 34 seed test laboratories in each province led by Balai Pengujian dan Sertifikasi Benih  and facilitated by Balai Besar PPMB-TPH to guarantee the quality. “Alhamdulillah there have been 25 laboratories that Komite Akreditasi Nasional (National Accreditation Committee) getting the certification; 3 labortories are in process, and 4 laboratories are not accredited/revoked,” Warjito said.

The accreditation is an annual process within the goal, to facilitate the seed test laboratory of Balai Pengawasan dan Sertifikasi Benih (BPSB) in Indonesia to implement quality management system based on SNI ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

It runs in two ways, such as, the direct visit to the laboratory (as the target to inspect) and online communication. The indirect facility runs by media, such as, e-mail, phone, or whatsapp.

In the Covid 19 pandemic which hits many regions in Indonesia since February 2020, it is not possible to do direct visit namely in the regions where are far away from Balai Besar PPMB-TPH. That is why the indirect facility (virtually) is the alternative. “This is done to facilitate and communicate with more persons by video conference. The most important thing is everything runs well,” he said.

In other place, General Director of Food Plantation, Ministry of Agriculture, Suwandi told that it is important to have quality guarantee. “Seeds are the determiners of productivity. Before they are distributed, there should be quality guarantee. We should not distribute the unqualified seeds,” he said.

He also fully supported what BBPPMBTPH has done. “In the future there should be new innovations, namely in the service to get the better qualified products,” he said.

For information, in Indonesia, Komite Akreditasi Nasional does the seed test laboratory based on the General Condition of SNI ISO/IEC 17025;2017 Calibration and Test Laboratory Competence. The condition to fulfill covers the general, structural, natural resources, process, and management system. (A2)