Deputy Minister Ensures Corn Seeds Are Freely Distributed To Farmers

Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan) Sudaryono. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Agriculture)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan) Sudaryono said the Ministry of Agriculture is currently finalizing the budget for the procurement of standard seeds with the Ministry of Finance.

It is estimated that in the next one to two weeks, the superior seeds will begin to be distributed free of charge to corn farmers throughout Indonesia. He revealed this after carrying out a corn harvest in Malang, East Java.

"We want to make sure that corn farmers, especially in the next planting season, get the best seeds for free. This is a real form of state alignment with farmers," he said, quoted on Friday, August 8.

Mas Dar, his nickname, added that superior seeds, availability of water and fertilizer, as well as profitable harvest prices are factors that determine the success of the agricultural sector. However, of all these factors, the selection of superior seeds is considered the most crucial because it has a direct impact on productivity.

"If the seeds are wrong, the harvest can decrease by 30 percent. But if we use superior and standardized seeds, with the same treatment, productivity can increase by 20 to 30 percent," he said.

According to Mas Dar, although the investment value of seeds is relatively small compared to fertilizers or other production facilities, the impact is very large on the harvest.

For this reason, the Ministry of Agriculture continues to encourage research and development of reform technology through collaboration with various parties, including private companies such as Syngenta.

"Syngenta is not just a brand, but a quality guarantee. Profitable breeders are fostered professionally, the seeds are superior and according to standards. This is what we distribute throughout Indonesia, so that our agricultural productivity can be guaranteed," said the Deputy Minister.