Tomohon Administration, North Sulawesi, Introduces Eight Chrysanthemum Varieties

Manado, N.Sulawesi (Antara Bali) - The administration of Tomohon City, North Sulawesi Province, has introduced eight new chrysanthemum varieties, besides the white and yellow types, Mayor of Tomohon Jimmy F. Eman stated here on Monday.

The eight varieties introduced at a technology event for chrysanthemum plants were Kineta, Pasopati, Arosuko Pelangi, Solinda Pelangi, Merah Hayani, Limeron, Elora, and Salziera.

These new chrysanthemum varieties have been added two years after the administration introduced chrysanthemum kulo (white chrysanthemum) and chrysanthemum riri (yellow chrysanthemum).

The eight varieties have been introduced on the sidelines of the Tomohon International Flower Festival being held on August 8-12, 2015.

"The ornamental plant is an agribusiness commodity that has a high economic value as a source of foreign exchange and revenues, as well as creates jobs and drives the local economy," the mayor remarked.

As the City of Flowers, he pointed out that the Tomohon administration seeks to develop chrysanthemum plants by empowering the farmers and simultaneously paying attention to the development of agriculture in the city.

The promotion of chrysanthemum can accelerate the adoption and dissemination of agricultural technology developed by the Research and Development Board of the Ministry of Agriculture, Eman emphasized.

"The administration would like to build broader partnerships with the private sectors, farmers, and related stakeholders to improve technology for the development of ornamental plants in Tomohon," he noted.

Head of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Office Ervinz Liuw affirmed that the flower festival will offer a momentum to gain experience, knowledge, and skills through applied and adaptive technology and innovations to improve the income and welfare of the farmers in Tomohon.

"The new varieties of chrysanthemum are the result of research conducted by the Research and Development Board of the Ministry of Agriculture," he added. (WDY)