Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government is positioning West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province as a national hub for garlic and corn cultivation to boost agricultural output, improve farmers’ welfare, and strengthen food security, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said.“NTB is one of the main pillars of national corn and garlic development and plays a key role in supporting the animal feed industry, in line with the target of achieving food self-sufficiency in the 2026–2030 period,” Sulaiman said.In a statement issued in Jakarta on Monday, he emphasized that NTB has significant potential to help Indonesia meet its food security goals by reducing imports and increasing domestic production, as directed by President Prabowo Subianto.The minister noted that the province has around 7,750 hectares of land suitable for garlic cultivation, with East Lombok District accounting for the largest share at about 2,500 hectares.“Garlic is a highly promising agricultural commodity, and its productivity can be increased through proper management,” Sulaiman said during a visit to the Sembalun sub-district in East Lombok.He underscored the need for close cooperation between stakeholders and farmers to fully utilize existing potential, particularly by optimizing idle farmland.“The Ministry of Agriculture is ready to provide free seeds and will cover nearly all related costs for this program,” he said, adding that the ministry is also prepared to provide technical assistance to farmers.On corn production, Sulaiman said the government plans to establish animal feed factories backed by investment to ensure better absorption of local harvests and maintain stable prices at the producer level, while also supporting the livestock sector.“I urge all parties to make every effort to support the development of corn and garlic in NTB to build a better future for the province,” he said, addressing Governor Lalu Muhammad Iqbal and local leaders.