February 12, 2026

 

Indonesia positions  West Nusa Tenggara as national hub for corn cultivation

 

The Indonesian government is positioning West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province as a national hub for garlic and corn cultivation to boost agricultural output, improve farmers' welfare, and strengthen food security, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said.

 

"NTB is one of the main pillars of national corn and garlic development and plays a key role in supporting the animal feed industry, in line with the target of achieving food self-sufficiency in the 2026–2030 period," Sulaiman said.

 

In a statement issued in Jakarta on February 9, he emphasised that NTB has significant potential to help Indonesia meet its food security goals by reducing imports and increasing domestic production, as directed by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

 

Sulaiman underscored the need for close cooperation between stakeholders and farmers to fully utilise existing potential, particularly by optimising idle farmland.

 

"The Ministry of Agriculture is ready to provide free seeds and will cover nearly all related costs for this programme," he said, adding that the ministry is also prepared to provide technical assistance to farmers.

 

On corn production, Sulaiman said the government plans to establish animal feed factories backed by investment to ensure better absorption of local harvests and maintain stable prices at the producer level, while also supporting the livestock sector.

 

"I urge all parties to make every effort to support the development of corn and garlic in NTB to build a better future for the province," he said, addressing Governor Lalu Muhammad Iqbal and local leaders.

 

- Antara