VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia has stopped the imports of corn except for that used as raw material for industrial purposes, such as for producing sweeteners and other items, Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo stated.

"I would like to inform that we are no longer importing rice and corn, except corn used for industrial needs, including for producing sweeteners and others," Minister Limpo stated at the Presidential Office, here, Monday.

On Monday meeting, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) instructed ministers to increase corn production, both for raw materials and post-harvest products, including those that had undergone the cultivation process, Limpo remarked.

The increase in production is in the form of land intensification and extensification. As for post-harvest production, the Agriculture Ministry will make several efforts, such as building post-harvest support facilities, such as silos and dryers.

"Hence, of course, this effort will help to reduce toxins in the corn and also to maintain the water content at above 14-20 percent to meet the needs of the industry market," he remarked.

He later noted that corn production in Indonesia currently surpassed 18 million tons. The production will continue to be increased in an effort to meet the domestic requirements, including the industry. The government will also strive to increase corn exports.

"I can see that in 100 days from now, if we work hard, including following the order of Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs (Airlangga Hartarto) to prepare farmer groups, land intensification, and land extensification, we can achieve that. God willing, we will ready the concept in the next one or two weeks," Limpo stated.

On the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the government will encourage corn production in new lands in Papua, West Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, North Maluku, and North Kalimantan.

"With a total land area of 141 thousand hectares, 86 thousand hectares is new land for corn production," Hartarto noted. (Antaranews)