Efforts to achieve national food self-sufficiency no longer rely solely on land expansion, but on optimizing productivity through modern agricultural technology. This strategic step was reflected in the grand corn harvest in Pijeran Village, Siman District, Ponorogo Regency, involving synergy between the government, academia, and the private sector.
Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, emphasized that innovation is the main key to facing the challenges of climate change and land limitations. Collaboration established with seed companies such as Bayer is expected to make production center regions, like Ponorogo, main supporting pillars in national corn supply stability.
National data shows a positive trend with an increase in corn harvest area in early 2026 reaching 0.24 million hectares. As one of the main producers in East Java, Ponorogo contributes significantly with an average productivity reaching 7.28 tons per hectare in 2025. This figure underscores the crucial role of the region on Indonesia's food security map.
The application of hybrid seed varieties such as Dekalb DK19C in the field has proven capable of boosting farmers' agronomic performance. The advantage of this variety lies in its high shelling yield and low moisture content at harvest, which directly reduces drying costs and increases profit margins for farmers at the grassroots level.
Bayer Indonesia also plans to expand its technological support through the launch of the latest biotechnology varieties, namely DK19S and DK09S. These seeds are specifically designed with dual protection against stem borers and armyworms, as well as tolerance to certain herbicides, which is expected to further facilitate the cultivation process for farmers.
Farmers in Ponorogo welcomed this innovation. Miswanto, a local farmer, acknowledged that using hybrid seeds yielded more uniform results and better harvest quality. Sustainable cultivation assistance support has also boosted farmers' confidence in adopting more advanced agricultural technologies for the economic independence of the agricultural sector.
