The demand for maize as food and feed in Indonesia has been steadily increasing. Total national maize production has grown at 4.07 per cent per annum in the last three decades, thanks mainly to the adoption of improved production technologies, particularly hybrid seed. This high production, however, still fails to meet domestic demand and has caused a rapid increase in the net import of maize. This study presents the maize production systems in four major maize-producing provinces in Indonesia: Lampung, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi.

In recent years, domestic maize demand for food and feed industries in Indonesia has grown faster than production. This paper reviews the past and current status and the future prospect of maize in Indonesia based on time series data from the last 41 years. The research shows that over the last four decades, consumption of maize has changed structurally from direct food to feed and food industries. Demand from both industries began to increase, and after 1975, maize production could not meet the growing demand for maize, which led Indonesia to import maize from other countries.

The high prices of new maize seed varieties in Indonesia has prevented some farmers, especially those in remote areas, from accessing high quality seed to increase their yields. This study aimed to accelerate the distribution of new high yield varieties by establishing community-based seed production systems at the village level to produce and provide high quality seed at an affordable price for farmers. Research was carried out in South Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara provinces between 2002 and 2004.

This article presents the findings of a study that introduces community-based seed production of new open-pollenated maize varieties that are suited to the local environment, as well as the sociological conditions and farmer's preferences, in East Nusa Tenggara. It aims to accelerate distribution of these high quality seeds in sufficient quantities and at affordable prices in order to increase maize productivity for farmers.

Maize farmers in East Nusa Tenggara have been slow to adopt new cultivation technologies despite several initiatives by the Indonesian government. A key challenge for farmers is access to the required inputs—improved varieties, fertilizer and pesticides. This research aimed to identify a suitable agribusiness model for subsistence/semi-commercial maize farmers to help address their challenges in using new technologies. Research was conducted with three farmer groups in South Timor Tengah district in 2007-2008.

Maize productivity in Indonesia is relatively low (3.66 t/ha), yet in some provinces it rises above 4.0 t/ha. This higher productivity is due to farmers' adoption of production technology, including the use of improved maize varieties. This paper describes the progress of the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development's breeding program to develop several improved maize varieties in Indonesia.

This study explores the feasibility of weather index insurance (WII) in providing cost-effective risk management benefits to rural people for coping with catastrophic events. It uses a case study on drought coverage for maize production in three provinces in eastern Indonesia: East Java, West Nusa Tenggara and East Lombok. Prototype WII contracts were developed for selected areas within these provinces. The contracts were found to provide appropriate coverage for crop losses resulting from rainfall deficit, but the estimated premiums for farmers would be expensive.

Maize yields in West Timor average around 2 t/ha, but have the potential to reach more than 4 t/ha with improved varieties, agronomy and nutrition. This paper explores the agronomic and physical characteristics of West Timor's landrace maize and production systems to determine the best approach for improving maize production and yield in West Timor. The research trials five maize varieties—three West Timor landrace populations and two open pollinated varieties—and grows them in the villages of Benlutu and Mnelalete in East Nusa Tenggara.

Maize is an important commodity in Nusa Tenggara Barat province as it has a strategic role in meeting the food needs of the people and the demand of feed industries in the region. However, raising productivity to meet the growing demand for maize requires the use of hybrids with high yield potential. This paper examines the potential yield of hybrids of harapan grown in dryland agro-ecosystems. Research was carried out in Perigi village—the centre of dryland maize production—in Suela subdistrict of Lombok Timur during the 2005/2006 rainy season.

This paper explores maize productivity and the yield gap in maize production in five provinces of Sulawesi. The research is based on secondary data collected for the period of 2001 to 2007 on harvested area, production, seed distribution and productivity. The findings revealed that average maize production and productivity varied significantly across the five provinces, from 64,664 tons in Central Sulawesi to 698,198 tons in South Sulawesi and from 2.21 t/ha in Southeast Sulawesi to 3.39 t/ha in Gorontalo. The paper documents the main constraints to production, including biophysical (e.g.