Innovative Corn Seed Technology Boosts Corn Productivity in Ponorogo

A collaborative effort between the government, private sector, and farmers is central to strengthening national food security through modern agricultural technology. This commitment was highlighted during a large-scale corn harvest event in Ponorogo, East Java, organized by Bayer Indonesia and the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs.

The event was attended by key figures including the Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, the Regent of Ponorogo, Lisdyarita, and representatives from Bayer Crop Science Indonesia. Minister Nurofiq emphasized that increasing productivity, not just expanding farmland, is crucial for achieving national food self-sufficiency, especially amid land limitations and climate change challenges. He cited the collaboration with private entities like Bayer as a prime example of how innovation can bolster regional production centers to support national corn output.

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Strengthening food security is not enough through expanding planting areas. We need to increase productivity through the utilization of agricultural technology and innovation. Collaboration between the government, farmers, and the private sector like Bayer is a real example of how innovation can drive regional production centers to become pillars of national corn production.

National corn production trends show consistent growth. In January 2026, the harvested area for shelled corn nationwide reached 0.24 million hectares, an 11.17 percent increase from January 2025. During the same period, the production of dry shelled corn (at 14% moisture content) was estimated at 1.38 million tons, up 11.09 percent from the previous year. Ponorogo, recognized as one of East Java's top 10 corn-producing regions, contributed significantly with a harvest area of approximately 39,046 hectares and a production of 284,242 tons in 2025, yielding an average productivity of 7.28 tons per hectare.

Regent Lisdyarita acknowledged Ponorogo's strategic role in supporting national food self-sufficiency goals. She stressed the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and the adoption of innovation and technology to help farmers increase yields. The use of Bayer's Dekalb DK19C corn variety in Ponorogo serves as a practical example of implementing seed innovation, with technical evaluations in Siman district showing promising agronomic performance. Aditia Rusmawan from Bayer Crop Science Indonesia further elaborated on the company's commitment to agricultural advancements.

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In the face of evolving challenges, the utilization of innovation and technology is a crucial step for farmers to increase harvest yields while supporting the achievement of national corn self-sufficiency targets.