Expansion of corn fields by 1,928 hectares is the main cause of the increase in production, chief of the West Sumatra office of Central Bureau of Statistic (BPS) Muchsin Ayub said here on Saturday.
According to the BPS , in the first eight months of the year, corn production of the province already reached 262,967 tons.
Muchsin attributed the corn field expansion to program of Integrated Plant Management School (SLPTT) financed with fund from the state budget in West Sumatra.
The program is to open 8,175 hectares of corn plantation and implementation has reached 2,100 hectares in the regencies of Limapuluh Kota and Pesisir Selatan, he said.
Around 1,815 hectares also financed with state budget are also to be opened other regencies including Dharmasraya, Pasaman Barat, Tanahdatar and Solok Selatan.
Meanwhile, West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno said in 2015 the West Sumatra administration sets corn production target at 1 million tons.
"The West Sumatra administration and the regional agriculture and food crop office would provide seeds free for the farmers," he said.
He asked all regents and city mayors to facilitate distribution of seeds for the farmers.
"If the production target could be achieved, West Sumatra will have surplus in corn supply," he said.
Corn is used as the main ingredient for animal feed. Indonesia still needs to import corn to meet its consumption.
(H-ASG/F001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
