Kapolda Sulawesi Utara Irjen Pol Yudo Hermanto saat panen raya jagung di lahan 15 hektare Desa Kolongan, Kecamatan Kalawat, Minahasa Utara, Rabu (28/10/2026). (Foto: BeritaManado)
NORTH MINAHASA — In the middle of a long El Nino dry season, 15 hectares of corn in Kolongan Village, Kalawat District, North Minahasa Regency (Minut), North Sulawesi, were ready for harvest. The harvest was held on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, attended by North Sulawesi Police Chief Inspector General Yudo Hermanto and members of the regional leadership forum (Forkopimda).
The field on Jalan Ir. Soekarno is managed by the Sehati Farmers Group together with Girian Jaya Group, with support from agricultural extension workers and the North Sulawesi and North Minahasa agriculture offices. Also present were North Minahasa Second Assistant Robby Parengkuan, North Minahasa Food Office head Asriyadi Lalompoh, Kalawat District head Agustinus Widruma Dondokambey, and Bitung Mayor Hengky Honandar.
Still Harvesting in the Dry Season
The crop is GJ 115, a high-yield yellow corn variety developed by Bitung-based Girian Jaya Seed. The variety is said to suit extreme weather, including long dry spells and El Nino. According to Girian Jaya Group, the 15-hectare field yielded around 75 tons.
“The main advantage of this corn variety is that it can still be harvested in the dry season.”
Insp. Gen. Yudo Hermanto, North Sulawesi Police Chief
Yudo noted that during El Nino many crops fail to grow at all, yet the corn at this site could be harvested. He said the 15-hectare field shows the importance of using land productively to support food security.
The police chief plans to report the results and potential of the variety to National Police Headquarters and proposed applying a similar approach across regional police units, involving agricultural experts. “This can be applied across all regional police units,” he said. Further tests on productivity, drought resistance, and suitability for other areas are still needed before wider rollout.
Superior Seeds from Bitung
Marcel Tatuwil of Girian Jaya Group explained that North Minahasa was chosen for its large available land and a water source close to the planting area. Planting was deliberately done in the dry season, with a focus on planting methods and crop care through to harvest.
“Bitung has been able to create superior corn seed,” Marcel said. Earlier, on 9 June 2026, another Girian Jaya variety was harvested on 3 hectares in Tanjung Merah, Matuari District, Bitung, yielding around 20 tons.
Girian Jaya Group owner Voltrain Loma praised the hard work of the farmers and extension workers. “They never gave up until we could harvest successfully,” he said.
Government Support for Food Self-Sufficiency
Bitung Mayor Hengky Honandar said the government fully supports the initiative because it aligns with national food self-sufficiency and food security goals. “In principle, we in government support, and are obliged to support, this program,” he said.
For farmers in Kolongan and nearby villages, a successful harvest amid El Nino shows that the right seeds, good mentoring, and cooperation among many parties can keep food production going even when the weather is unkind.
Summarized from Tribrata News Polri, BeritaManado, and Zona Utara (in Indonesian).
