Pollinating insects act as agents for transferring pollen to the pistil that leads to the increase of quality seed production. Since carrot is propagation through seed, insect pollination are important in the reproduction of the crop. The purpose of this study was to observe the diversity and activity of pollinating insects on carrot flowers in the Experimental Garden of the Agricultural Technology Research and Assessment Installation (IP2TP) Berastagi. Scan sampling method was applied to record the pollinator diversity, while the foraging behaviour of the insects was observed using focal sampling. The number of insects were recorded, collected and preserved in ethanol 70%. Insect identification guideline book was used to identify the insects by comparing their morphology and physiology. The results showed that there were 8 insect species visiting the carrot flowers: Amegilla sp., Polyrachis sp., Coccinella sp., Rhagonycha sp., Muscidae sp., Chrysomya sp., Nephrotoma sp. and Tabanus sp. Amegilla sp. was found to have the highest intensity visiting the carrot flowers (21.6 ± 10.06)% while the lowest was demonstrated by Polyrachis sp. (12.6 ± 4.12)%. Also, Amegilla sp. was recorded to be the most active insect (11.84 ± 1.46 seconds/flower) with the number of flowers visited was 5,06 ± 1,46 flowers/minute. Polyrachis sp. has been revealed to have the longest stay on the flowers visited (49.24 ± 3.89 seconds/flower) with the number of flowers visited 1.21 ± 3.90 flowers/minute. The diversity of pollinating insect was found to be in intermediate level (H’ = 1.89).

The purposes of this study were to identify the potency of citrus farming and to recommend citrus seeding development policy in North Sumatra Province. The method used in this study was desk study, and secondary data was analyzing descriptively. Citrus seeding is one of the keys to the success of citrus farming. North Sumatra Province is one of the centers for citrus development in Indonesia. The seed is one of the keys to the success of farming. Currently, citrus development in North Sumatra is still constrained by the availability of seeds. Only a few proportions of the seeds that are currently used by farmers were from local breeders and usually carried out if there was a government program. The shortage of citrus seeds came from outside of North Sumatra Province as the Bangkinang citrus variety which is parent stock source was not guaranteed. One of the citrus types in North Sumatra Province is called ‘siam madu’ citrus. The opportunity for siam madu citrus seeding development was feasible, considering that siam madu citrus was very popular for citrus farmers.

The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics of shallot cultivation and to understand the financial feasibility analysis in Dolok Silau Simalungun to enhance the improvement of the technology needed. Methods used in this research are survey and observation methods. Based on the assessment results, it was found that shallot farming which is planted on dry land and small scale in Sarang Padang, Dolok Silau, Simalungun has a 0,05 – 0,1 ha area. The productivity of that farming is low which averaging 5,25 tonnes/ha. The total production cost is Rp 59.598.000 with a B/C ratio of 0,59. The capital of shallot production is Rp 10.743,00 per kg. Most of the shallot production cost is absorbed by labor cost (36 %), followed by seed cost (35%). The increment of revenue can be achieved by improving productivity through the improvement of farming technologies. Technology improvements in shallot cultivation that are needed are increasing plant density, seed quality improvement, replacement of labor weeding, and the use of integrated pest and disease control. To anticipate price fluctuations, farmers need a storage technology that is a group warehouse to keep the shallot when the market price is very cheap. Institutional education needs to be strengthened for the socialization of shallot cultivation technology and innovation for the farmers.

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