Distance Learning for Pepper and Corn Breeding and Seed Production

The one-year vocational education in seed breeding and production technology (SBP) at Padjadjaran University provide an opportunity for seed professionals to produce pepper and corn seed. Nowadays most of food-crop farmers in Indonesia grow pepper and corn by using, mainly, imported seed. The production of local pepper and corn seed reached only 10% and 35,86% of national need. The purpose of SBP program i s to provide breeders which have general knowledge and practice in pepper and corn seed production. The emphasis of this education method is distance learning for develop students knowledge in simple method of plant breeding, plant variety protection, registration of plant variety for seed distribution and seed certification. However, improving practical knowledge by distance learning will not guarantee the effectiveness of the program to deliver qualified breeder and seed producer. Laboratory, green house as well as field works should be performed so that students will have sufficient understanding and experience as breeder and seed producer when they work in seed company or they found their own company. To support this hybrid vocational education program, lectures from University attend and monitor student work regularly.