President Prabowo Subianto revealed that Indonesia is targeting to stop importing corn from 2026, by when it is hoping to achieve self-sufficiency in corn production.
He made the statement based on a report from Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman.
During a simultaneous corn harvest and the launch of Indonesia’s first corn exports to Malaysia in Bengkayang district, West Kalimantan, on Thursday, Prabowo noted that in 2024, the country imported around 500 thousand tons of corn.
However, he said, Minister Sulaiman and chief of the National Police, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, have notified him that the country will no longer need to import corn from 2026.
The National Police is supporting the government on a large-scale corn cultivation project, the One Million Hectare Corn Planting Program, to boost production.
Prabowo noted that national corn production climbed 48 percent in the first quarter of 2025, from four tons per hectare to between six and eight tons per hectare.
Related news: Prabowo launches Malaysia-bound corn export, warehouses in Bengkayang
According to the President, Indonesia may achieve corn self-sufficiency sooner than expected, potentially within one year, supported by the use of high-quality seed varieties and organic fertilizers.
“Our goal of self-sufficiency in corn may not take two to three years, it might only take one year to achieve that. This is very significant,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of innovation in processing agricultural harvests and diversifying corn-based products to include corn chips and corn rice, which, he said, are healthier and have higher added value.
In addition, he highlighted the need to ensure that the increase in production also translates into improved farmer welfare.
“Our farmers, as the backbone of food production, must live decently. We should work efficiently and find areas that we can intervene, through (the provision of) machinery, technology, seeds, fertilizers, biofertilizers, which can be extraordinary,” he said.
Related news: Indonesia prepares 27,000 tons of corn for export in June
Translator: Mentari, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
