President Jokowi inspects the corn harvest in Sumbawa Regency, NTB, Thursday (02/05/2024). (Photo: BPMI Presidential Secretariat)
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inspected the corn harvest in Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Thursday (02/05/2024). In his statement after the review, President Jokowi emphasized the importance of maintaining price balance, especially when there is excess supply.
“The previous price was IDR 7,000, now it is IDR 4,200. Good for breeders but not good for farmers. “Well, you know, maintaining a balance like this is not easy,” said the President.
Furthermore, the President also emphasized the importance of increasing corn production in each region which also has an impact on increasing farmers’ income.
“Productivity must increase, for example, like here using tough seeds, the yield I asked earlier was 7-8 tons, if it’s the same, it could be 7, 8, 9 tons. “Well, the production has to be that, but there are those below 5. Well, those with a price of IDR 4,200 don’t cover it,” he said.
The President also hopes that corn prices can continue to increase and that there will be a balance between demand and supply. The President has also instructed his staff to carry out calculations properly.
“Yesterday we did the calculations and we pushed for it, but if… supply– is too big, demandIt’s still the law of the market that prices will definitely go down because over supply,” said the President.
Apart from that, the President also instructed his staff to encourage industrialization in the agricultural sector. This is one of the government’s efforts to maintain price stability.
“Of course [hilirisasi] This is what we will continue to push for, so that prices can be more stable, if there is industrialization prices will be more stable. But if it’s far away, from here you have to take it to Java, from here you have to take it to West Java, yes indeed cost“You eat a lot in transport,” he said.
Also accompanying the President in the review were, among others, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan, Acting. NTB Governor Lalu Gita Ariadi, and Sumbawa Regent Mahmud Abdullah. (US/UN)