Abundant Corn Harvest, Ministry Of Agriculture Affirms No Imports Needed

BANTUL The government is optimistic that it will no longer need to import corn for animal feed after witnessing the abundant yield of corn harvests in Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region. The main harvest which took place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Bulak Balong Opak, Klaras, Canden Hamlet, Kapanewon Jetis, recorded that the tiles reached 9.11 tons per hectare far beyond the national average which was in the range of 4 5 tons per hectare.

This activity was attended by the Director General of Food Crops at the Ministry of Agriculture, Yudi Sastro, together with the Regent of Bantul Abdul Halim Muslih, the ranks of the TNI-Polri, as well as representatives from the Opak River Basin Center (BBWSO) and the DIY Agriculture Service.

"The need for national feed corn is around 15 million tons. Looking at results like this, we make sure there is no need to import corn for feed anymore. Meanwhile, for food needs, if there is import, it will be re-exported in processed form," said Yudi Sastro.

Yudi also emphasized the importance of synergy between the Ministry of Agriculture, TNI, Polri, and local governments as the main pillars in realizing national food security. He also highlighted the success of corn exports from a number of regions, such as West Kalimantan, Surabaya, Gorontalo, and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

TNI with rice, Polri with corn, and local governments with infrastructure support. If all have the same vision and steps, then food self-sufficiency is no longer just hope," said Yudi.

The Regent of Bantul, Abdul Halim Muslih, stated that the current agricultural scheme, which includes price guarantees and infrastructure supply, has improved the welfare of farmers. Bantul even recorded a surplus in rice and corn production this year.

"With the price of corn guaranteed at IDR 5,500 per kilogram and rice at IDR 6,500 per kilogram, as well as irrigation support and other infrastructure, agricultural governance from upstream to downstream is now getting stronger," he said.

Bantul Police Chief, AKBP Novita Eka Sari, revealed that the location of this harvest season used to be a 3 hectare sleeping area. Thanks to the National Police's initiative, the land was successfully optimized into a high-productive agricultural area.

"The national target to plant corn on an area of one million hectares will continue to be supported. This is proof that sleeping land can also be transformed into a source of food security," he concluded.