In 2015, the corn production of the province rose to 1.519 million tons from 1,159 tons in 2014 on improved productivity to 6,233 kilograms from 5,782 kilogram per hectares in 2014.
Head of the North Sumatra Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Wien Kusdiatmono said the productivity of corn in the province has continued to rise in the past three years from 5,587 kilograms in 2013.
Wien said in addition to productivity expansion of harvest area also contributed to increase in production in corn production in the province.
Harvest area expanded to 243,770 hectares in 2015 from 200,603 tons in 2014.
Head of the program department of the North Sumatra agriculture service Marino said the provincial administration would continue steps to boost food crop production including corn, soybean and rice.
In 2016, a higher increase is expected in the corn production of the province," Marino said.
Indonesia still needs to import corn grain every year especially for use as basic material for animal feed industry in the country.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaeman has said Indonesia would be self sufficient in corn supply in 2018.
The minister said corn imports have declined 47 percent or around 800,000 tons - one million tons a year.
"Next year or in 2018 at the latest, there would be no need to import corn both for human consumption or for animal feed industry," he said when witnessing corn harvest in the sub-district of Dlanggu, Mojokerto recently .
Earlier, an industry ministry official said Indonesia would import 2.4 million tonnes of corn for feed mills in 2016.
Earlier on Wednesday, an industry ministry official said Indonesia would import 2.4 million tonnes of corn for feed mills in 2016.
Southeast Asias largest economy, imports corn mainly from Argentina and Brazil.
In July, 2015, the government temporarily stopped issuing corn import permits to feed mills, with the government making a broad push for food self-sufficiency and channeling imports through Bulog starting 2016.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
