Indonesia Halts Corn Import in 2017

Ciamis, W. Java, (Antara Sumbar) - Indonesia will not import corn from the US and Argentina in 2017, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman stated.

"In our first year, we imported 3.6 million tons (of corn), and last year, we had imported 900 thousand tons. This year, our corn imports from the US and Argentina are zero," Sulaiman noted after the launch of the farmers' card at Medanglayang Village of Ciamis District, West Java, Monday (Oct 9).

Sulaiman said the administration of President Joko Widodo has been successful in ensuring synergy between cabinet ministers to coordinate to realize self-sufficiency in food.

"We have demonstrated to the world that we do not import corn and rice anymore. Instead, we have exported onion," he added.

In addition to imposing a floor price on the commodity, the government has made all-out efforts to support farmers to increase production.

"In Central Java, corn was also planted along the dykes of paddy fields and in cemeteries, such as those in North Sumatra and Jeneponto," he noted.

Sulaiman expressed hope that such efforts would contribute to boosting the nation's economy and realizing food self-sufficiency.

"We have now witnessed an increase in the production of corn and onion. Next, we will increase the production of garlic and soybean and then focus on cattle and sugar gradually," he noted. (*)

Editor: Vicha Faradika