Agriculture Minister Visits East Java, Acquires ITS Innovations: Corn Seeds, Amphibious Tractor, and Coconut Climbing Tool

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman began his activities at 6 a.m. WIB on Wednesday by flying to East Java to visit the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) Buncitan campus in Sidoarjo. During the visit, the minister directly purchased various innovations created by the nation’s youth, including superior corn seeds worth IDR 10 billion, an electric amphibious tractor, and a coconut climbing tool. This step follows President Prabowo’s directive for the government to prioritise the use of products and innovations from universities to support national development, particularly in the agricultural sector. Amran stated that Indonesia must provide space for campus-born innovations so they do not remain mere research but are genuinely utilised by farmers and become solutions for increasing national food production. ‘Today, this morning, we are proud of the ITS Rector. We have seen firsthand the works of the nation’s children. There are superior corn seeds with a yield of 10 tonnes per hectare, a coconut climbing tool, and an amphibious tractor that can work on upland and in swamps,’ Amran said. As a concrete form of support, the Ministry of Agriculture immediately transacted the purchase of ITS hybrid corn seeds for planting on 13,000 hectares, valued at IDR 10 billion. ‘Today we immediately bought corn for 13,000 hectares, that’s IDR 10 billion. We are proud because its productivity is above the national average. We must oversee this together. We will distribute these seeds to farmers for free,’ he stated. According to Amran, if corn productivity can be pushed to an average of 10 tonnes per hectare through the use of superior seeds and technological assistance, national production will increase significantly without the need to open new land. He also decided to purchase an amphibious tractor capable of operating on both dry land and swamps, as well as a coconut climbing tool that had been previously ordered by the ministry. He noted that these innovations would improve farmers’ work efficiency while reducing the risk of accidents during coconut harvesting. ‘Last year we ordered an amphibious tractor and a coconut climbing tool. We feel sorry for our farmers who risk their lives climbing coconuts, sometimes up to 20 or 25 metres high. With machines, productivity is high. We are the world’s largest coconut producer, so we must push this and its downstream industry,’ Amran said. He emphasised that the government will continue to prioritise university research as part of a national agricultural transformation based on innovation and technology. Meanwhile, ITS hybrid corn breeder Muryono said the MTE 09 corn seed is ready for mass production to meet farmers’ needs. He is confident in the seed supply and ready to provide planting stock starting in October, along with direct supervision to ensure optimal cultivation practices. ITS Rector Bambang Pramujati appreciated the ministry’s trust in utilising campus innovations and affirmed ITS’s commitment to supporting food self-sufficiency through the development of superior seeds, agricultural mechanisation, and other technologies.