TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi directly inspected the corn harvest in Boalemo Regency, Gorontalo on Monday, April 22, 2024. Jokowi hopes that corn production continues to increase while imports are reduced.

"We want to ensure that our corn production continues to increase," said Jokowi in a video statement.

The President noted that Indonesia’s corn imports have been reduced to 400,000 to 450,000 tons from the initial 3.5 million tons. In 2023, the government realized 171,000 tons of corn imports out of the previously set quota of 250,000 tons of imported corn.

Apart from highlighting production, Jokowi also noted corn prices during his visit to Gorontalo. The government recorded that the corn prices last year could reach up to Rp8,000 per kilogram, but have now fallen to Rp4,000 - 5,000.

Jokowi aims to boost both production and selling prices for corn farmers. Meanwhile, he believes that Bulog's corn imports need to be re-examined.

Jokowi arrived in Gorontalo for a working visit on Sunday. During this occasion, Jokowi inaugurated a number of infrastructures such as the Panua Pohuwato airport and the expressway in Dulupi District, Boalemo Regency.

In his remarks at the inauguration of the expressway in Boalemo Regency, Jokowi emphasized the importance of road infrastructure to support local production such as coconut and corn.

"If there are no roads here, where will you take the coconut and corn production?" Jokowi said as quoted from a Presidential Secretariat written statement.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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