Economic potential and local varieties registration of Bacan Avocado from South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku

\nAvocados in Bacan Island, South Halmahera Regency, and North Maluku are local accessions with advantages and the potential to be used as local superior varieties. Efforts to preserve and manage avocados in Bacan Island are carried out by characterization, identifying their uses, and documenting them. Variety protection involves a registration process at the Center for Plant Variety Protection and Agricultural Licensing (PPVTPP) of the Ministry of Agriculture to obtain a certificate of local variety ownership. The aim of this research is to determine the morphological characteristics and economic value of Bacan avocado. The characterization and inventory process were carried out from April to October 2021 in Kampung Makian Village, South Halmahera Regency. Morphological identification includes quantitative and qualitative characteristics of plant parts, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds based on IPGRI avocado description guidelines. Complete data and information on plant characteristics are recorded in standard forms and registered to PPVTPP. The results show that the avocado with the local name Afokat Bacan was registered as a local variety on 23 December 2021 with ownership certificate number 1816/PVL/2021. Afokat Bacan has economic value and is prospective in business development in North Maluku as a source of income and providing employment opportunities for the community. The potential economic value of avocado production in North Maluku in IDR. 27,348,000,000/ year.\n