Cultivation and Culture of Dioscorea esculenta in Papua
Arif Susila 1*, Vina Eka Aristya 2, Mariana Ondikeleuw 2, Afrizal Malik 3 , Intan Gilang Cempaka 1

1 Research Center for Horticultural and Estate Crops, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl. Raya Jakarta-Bogor, Cibinong, Kabupaten Bogor 16915, West Java, Indonesia
2 Research Center for Food Crop, Research Organization of Agriculture and Food, National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong Science Center-Botanical Garden, Jl. Raya Jakarta-Bogor Km. 46, Cibinong, Bogor, Indonesia 16911
3 Research Center for Circular Economics, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl. Jenderal Gator Subroto No. 10, South Jakarta, Indonesia 12710


*Email:arifsusilamgl[at]gmail.com

Abstract

The study of cultivation and culture of Dioscorea esculenta (gembili) in the Papua Province of ethnobotany was carried out in Jayapura districts (Yoka and Yongsu villages) and Merauke districts (Yanggandur and Sota villages). These sites were the gembili development center in Papua. The data collected includes socio-cultural, local wisdom, its contribution to the economy of farmer households, and the environment for growing gembili. The research results identified two types of gembili in Jayapura, by the community known as Yara (11 accessions) and Fam (5 accessions), also 30 accessions of local gembili in Merauke. Gembili has a strategic role in the customs and culture of the indigenous tribes in Papua. The gembili germplasm needs to be utilized and developed.

Keywords: Dioscorea esculenta, identification, characterization, Papua

Topic: Agriculture Productivity