Corn farmers in East Nusa Tenggara are able to produce corn as much as 9 tons/hectare through the implementation of the cattle-harvesting corn cropping program (TJPS), said Head of the NTT Agriculture and Food Security Service, Lecky Koli. "Corn farmers like those in Southwest Sumba are able to produce high production of up to 9 tons/hectare which is sold at a price of Rp. 4,000/kilogram," he said in a statement received in Kupang, Monday. Lecky Koli said farmers were able to increase corn production with the support of various aspects that were intervened through the TJPS program such as innovation and technology approaches, use of superior seeds, fertilizer support, and adequate production facilities. In addition, corn farmers were also accompanied by agricultural extension officers and received financial support credit such as KUR from the Regional Development Bank (BPD) NTT.
With this support, he said, within three months of farmers or about 100 days, farmers can produce as much as 9 tons/ha of corn which is sold at a selling price of Rp. 4,000 per kg, resulting in a profit of around Rp. 36 million. "So this is part of the innovation that we are developing to increase corn production in NTT and the welfare of farmers," he said. Lecky Koli said his party targets the area of corn products to continue to grow to reach 100 thousand ha in 2022.
He mentioned a number of aspects that need to be continuously improved by the local government, including increasing the awareness of farmers in using superior plant seeds with high productivity levels and being able to survive in climatic conditions in NTT.
In addition, the support of agricultural tools and machines to accelerate the production process to reach a high efficiency point so as to increase the competitiveness of the agricultural products produced. "We are working on all of this through the partnership pattern TJPS program so we hope that our targets can be achieved both in improving the welfare of farmers and contributing to national food needs," he said.
Source: https://m.antaranews.com/berita/2800093/petani-ntt-capable-production-jag-9-ton-ha-via-program-tjps
