Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, Acting Governor of Aceh Achmad Marzuki, and IM Commander Major General TNI Novi Helmy Prasety harvested corn together in Darul Imarah Aceh Besar's Gampong Deunong. The corn field, a demonstration plot of Infantry Battalion 112/DJ and the I'm Jagong program area, spearheaded by IM Commander Iskandar Muda Major General TNI Novi Helmy Prasetya, set the stage. Minister Sulaiman expressed optimism regarding Indonesia's potential to regain its status as a global corn exporter if corn productivity increases, citing Indonesia's previous position as a significant corn exporter before the Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative isn't solely for consumption but also a humanitarian gesture. Indonesia halted corn exports in 2018 and 2019 due to the El Nino impact. Recovery is anticipated as some areas have commenced simultaneous corn harvesting while others are still in the planting phase.

Aceh's government requested corn seed assistance for 60,000 hectares, with plans to expand to 100,000 hectares if initial yields are satisfactory. A productivity of 5 tons per hectare across 100,000 hectares would yield 500,000 tons, potentially resolving import issues, especially considering abundant domestic corn stocks from provinces like East Java, South Sulawesi, Lampung, and West Nusa Tenggara. President Joko Widodo increased fertilizer subsidies by IDR 14 trillion to support food production, while the Ministry of Agriculture refocused IDR 7.7 trillion towards free seedling distribution, irrigation construction, and other agricultural purposes. The collaborative effort aims to boost Indonesia's corn production, potentially reestablishing its position as a global corn exporter, benefiting both the economy and food security.

Source: https://popularitas.com/berita/panen-di-aceh-besar-mentan-optimis-indonesia-bisa-ekspor-jagung/