West Sumatra launched an integrated corn farming initiative on Wednesday as part of Indonesia’s push to achieve food self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imports, following President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to halt corn imports by 2026. The initiative seeks to build a sustainable corn farming ecosystem by providing structured production facilities, technical support, and guaranteed harvest absorption schemes for farmers. It positions West Sumatra to become a hub for national corn production, in line with Indonesia’s efforts to strengthen food sovereignty amid global supply chain uncertainties. The program is initiated by Mekar Agrifin Teknologi (Paten Mekar Tani) in collaboration with the West Sumatra Police, the provincial government, and Mekar Investama Teknologi (MEKAR). Indonesia’s corn imports reached 1.3 million tons between January and November 2024, mainly from Argentina and Brazil. This marked a significant increase from 892,080 tons during the same period in 2023. The launch event featured a symbolic corn planting ceremony, a collaboration plaque unveiling, and the awarding to individuals and organizations contributing significantly to West Sumatra’s agriculture sector.Source : https://jakartaglobe.id/news/west-sumatra-launches-corn-program-as-prabowo-targets-import-halt-by-2026 (ICE GIACARTA)

Fonte notizia: Jakarta Globe, 25/07/2025