JAKARTA, Jan 12 — Indonesia plans to export corn to Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam this year, the country’s Head of National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said.

He said Indonesia expects to export 200,000 tonnes of corn to the Southeast Asian markets in the first quarter of this year, according to Vietnam news agency (VNA).

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that President Joko Widodo asked for an increase of corn productivity by opening new farms and planting quality seeds, VNA added.

According to Airlangga, the President’s instruction was made based on the consideration of the potential of corn plants.

Last year, Indonesia’s corn production reached 34.4 million tonnes.

The government also planned to carry out measures to increase efficiency of corn supply line activities, starting from harvest, post-harvest process, storage, and transportation and distribution through further implementation of agricultural innovation and technology, it reported. — Bernama