Towards Commercial Orientation of Maize Farming In East Nusa Tenggara

Abstract

Maize constitute dominant food crop in upland semi-arid region of East Nusa Tenggara (ENT) and as a main staple for majority of rural farmers. This paper examines Provincial Government programs to increase maize production and to reform maize production orientation. Data and information being used from the recent program: “Maize Planting, Cattle Harvest (MPCH)”. The survey was conducted in all villages in Districts of Timor and Sumba Island as pilot project. The study showed that: 1). Maize farmers keen to change production orientation from subsistence to semi and fully commercial as long as there are surplus production and better access to the market, 2). Average maize productivity of farmers under program (5 – 8 ton/ha) higher than traditional practices (1 – 2 ton/ha), 3). Most farmers under the program have access to have own cattle 1- 2 head/household from surplus production of maize sold with contract price IDR 3,200/kg. This result implies that incorporated farmer into the market from the beginning of the program, technical assistance to apply appropriate innovations, organized farmers groups to enhance business scale and government support to minimize production cost lead farmers to adopt new innovation, increase maize production and change maize production orientation (commercial).