President Jokowi asks to maintain corn prices at farmer level

President Jokowi hopes that corn production will increase, but the price of this commodity at the farmer level must still be maintained.

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/RUSMAN

President Jokowi inspects the corn harvest in Boalemo Regency, Gorontalo Province, Monday (22/4/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — President Joko Widodo hopes that corn production can continue to increase. However, corn prices at the farmer level also need to be maintained through purchases by the Logistics Affairs Agency or Bulog.

President Jokowi said that corn production in the country is currently starting to increase. This is attributed to corn imports which continue to decline. As a comparison, in 2015 Indonesia imported 3.5 million tons of corn, whereas now the volume of imports of this commodity is only 400,000-450,000 tons.

"Our corn production continues to increase because corn imports, which used to be three and a half million (tonnes), are now 400,000-450,000 (tonnes). "Indeed, it has dropped a lot," said President Jokowi after inspecting the corn harvest in Boalemo Regency, Gorontalo Province, Monday (22/4/2024 ).

Also present at the event were Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Acting Governor of Gorontalo Ismail Pakaya, and Acting Regent of Boalemo Sherman Moridu.

Also read: Controlling Stem Rot Disease in Corn

Our corn production continues to increase because corn imports, which used to be three and a half million (tonnes), are now 400,000-450,000 (tonnes).

However, the selling price of corn from farmers has also decreased from IDR 8,000 to IDR 4,050 per kilogram. Although the price drop indicates abundant production, the President hopes for a more profitable selling price for corn farmers.

"We expect both, an increase in production and a rise in prices. This is what the government must do, perhaps through purchasing by Bulog," said President Jokowi.

Also read: Government Decides to Import 1.2 Million Tons of Corn

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/RUSMAN

President Jokowi provides assistance to farmers after inspecting the corn harvest in Boalemo Regency, Gorontalo Province, Monday (22/4/2024).

Meanwhile, when referring to data, Indonesia's corn production continues to decline. The Agricultural Data and Information Center of the Ministry of Agriculture stated in 2017 that corn production was 28,924,015 tons. However, in 2021, corn production decreased to 23,042,765 tons (Kompas.id, February 6, 2024).

As for the Central Statistics Agency, it is estimated that in 2023 the harvested area of corn will be 2.49 million hectares with a production of dried corn kernels with a moisture content of 14 percent at 14.46 million tons. The volume of corn production has decreased compared to 2022, which was 16.53 million tons.

Also read: Ministry of Agriculture Targets Indonesia to Return to Exporting Corn in Three Years

Nevertheless, Amran still hopes to ensure that Indonesia meets its own needs and then quickly resumes corn exports within the next three years.

"We used to be self-sufficient and even exported. In 2018-2019, we exported (corn), but now we have to import due to the pressure of El Nino," said Amran during a corn harvest on land owned by TNI Kodam Iskandar Muda in Aceh Besar Regency, Aceh, on Tuesday (6/2/2024).

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

A child shows corn in Belo Village, Maulafa District, Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, Monday (8/4/2024).

Several steps are being taken to achieve the target of becoming an exporter again, such as expanding the planting area. In addition, farmers are being assisted in providing seeds, production tools, subsidized fertilizers, and ensuring competitive selling prices.

The budget for subsidized fertilizer procurement this year has been increased by Rp 14 trillion. Therefore, according to Amran, if there are any attempts to manipulate fertilizer prices, action, processing, and revocation of permits are necessary.

Also read: 1.7 Million Tons of Fertilizer Prepared, Subsidy Funds Requested to Add IDR 14 Trillion

President Jokowi also believes that crop failures can still be tolerated. He estimated that the failure of corn harvests would be similar to rice, in which even though there are failures, there are still surplus harvests from before.

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/RUSMAN

President Jokowi gave a statement to journalists after inspecting the corn harvest in Boalemo Regency, Gorontalo Province, Monday (22/4/2024).

The President, who was impressed by the corn and coconuts in Boalemo, also hopes that agriculture in the local hilly area will soon be converted to a terracing system. This is because river sedimentation appears to be severe, with the water color being brownish.

Also read: Indonesia and the Heritage of the World Agricultural System

Terracing systems are needed to prevent river sedimentation. "This is what must be done. Yes, slowly but surely, but it must be started," said President Jokowi.

In addition, the provision of seeds and fertilizers is also requested by the Head of State to not be delayed. Thus, the productivity of corn farmers can continue to increase.