Indonesia plans to stop importing corn from 2026

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has announced that the country aims to stop importing corn from 2026, achieving self-sufficiency in its production. The statement came during the simultaneous harvest of corn and the launch of the first export to Malaysia in West Kalimantan, announced by Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman.

Indonesia imported about 500,000 tons of corn in 2024. Meanwhile, according to data from January to July 2025, dry corn production was 9.45 million tons, up 0.94 million tons or 11.08% from the same period last year. In the first quarter of 2025, national corn production increased by 48%, and yields increased from 4 tons per hectare to 6-8 tons per hectare.

To support the ambitious goal, the Indonesian government has enlisted the help of the National Police, which is facilitating a large-scale corn project called the One Million Hectare Corn Plantation Program. The president said that the use of high-quality seed varieties and organic fertilizers could allow Indonesia to achieve corn self-sufficiency even earlier than a year.

Prabowo also stressed the importance of innovation in agricultural processing and diversification into corn-based products such as corn chips and corn rice, which are healthier and have higher added value. He also stressed the need to ensure the welfare of farmers by providing machinery, technology, seeds, fertilizers and biofertilizers so that increased production can contribute to improving their lives.

Tags: corn, Indonesia, imports