Local government of North Kolaka continues to maximize efforts to boost the community's economy, with one of the serious initiatives being through the plantation and agricultural sectors. In addition to cocoa, which is a leading commodity, corn, as a secondary or short-term crop, is also being maximized because it has proven to provide added value for the community.

On Wednesday (February 10, 2021), the Regent of North Kolaka, Nur Rahman Umar, conducted a corn harvest in Mataiwoi Village, Ngapa District. On this occasion, the Regent stated that from 2019 to 2022, 18 villages and 11 districts in North Kolaka would receive the READSI program from the Ministry of Agriculture with a budget of approximately 20 billion Rupiah.

"This activity is the first corn harvest from the READSI program, which is a national program funded by the state budget (APBN). This program targets cocoa, corn, home gardens, and cloves," he said.

It was explained that in Mataiwoi Village, there are currently 50 hectares of cocoa plantations with a target harvest of 6.5 tons per hectare, with a price of IDR 3,700 per kilogram. "In North Kolaka, the READSI program covers 150 hectares for corn, 1,125 hectares for cocoa, 44 hectares for home gardens, and 2,227 people are involved in the READSI program," he added.

The Regent also mentioned that the current market price of corn is quite good, so that in one hectare, the community can generate IDR 96,000,000 annually. "With this READSI program, we hope to improve the economy of the people of North Kolaka," he hoped. (Lh)