An official from the ministry's Directorate of Cereals, Arnen Sri Gemala, said here on Tuesday that corn can be planted in the rainy season, namely in October, November, and December, and then be harvested in February, March, and April.
She made the statement at a press conference on the preparations for the All Agri Expo-National Corn Festival that will be held at Grand City Surabaya from December 7 to 9, 2023.
According to her, corn self-sufficiency is currently the Ministry of Agriculture's main strategic program. Indonesia is aiming to attain corn self-sufficiency next year because national demand and needs, such as for consumption, animal feed, and the food and beverage industry, have continued to increase.
"For that reason, the corn estate concept is very interesting, and the Directorate of Cereals - Directorate General of Food Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture encourage investors to get involved because the need for corn has greatly risen towards the target of self-sufficiency in 2024," she said.
She noted that the potential of land in Indonesia is very vast and is supported by the climate.
Corn has become an industrial commodity, she added. She then expressed the hope that Indonesia will become self-sufficient in terms of corn and even become a corn barn in Southeast Asia.
"Nevertheless, actually, we are currently already starting to be self-sufficient," she added.
According to her, in 2023, there are 87 feed factory centers that need corn as an ingredient.
Meanwhile, general chairperson of the Corn Agribusiness Society, Eman Suryaman, expressed the hope that corn and its derivative products can become staple food, like before.
"Currently, many farmers are interested in planting corn because it can be planted in all land conditions," Suryaman said.
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Translator: Indra Setiawan, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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