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Indonesia to import 500,000 tonnes of corn as supply deficit looms
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (right, in foreground) speaks to Keerom Regent Piter Gusbager (left, in foreground) on July 6, 2023, after harvesting corn at a food estate in Wambes village in Keerom’s Mannem district, Papua. The first harvest at this particular estate has managed to produce 7 tonnes per hectare of produce, higher than the national average of 5.6 tonnes per ha and enough to reach corn sufficiency in eastern Indonesia. (Antara/Sakti Karuru)
T
he government plans to import 500,000 tonnes of corn to help control feed prices for livestock, according to a National Food Agency (Bapanas) statement on Wednesday.
Bapanas head Arief Prasetyo explained that the government expects a corn supply deficit in the fourth quarter of this year based on data provided by the national commodity balance. It will therefore seek ways to maintain supply, especially through imports.
“In the first phase, we will begin with 250,000 tonnes,” Arief said.
Arief said he would arrange the imports before the corn harvest season begins to prevent a fall in farmgate prices.
Read also: Chicken farmers call for corn imports to stabilize feed prices
Corn is a major component of livestock feed for chicken farmers in Indonesia, who are often pressured by higher production costs when corn price rise.
Meanwhile, corn prices for livestock feed have increased to Rp 7,000 (45 US cents) per kilogram as of Tuesday, more than 3 percent increase compared to the previous month.
