Decline Forecast In Bali's Corn Production

Denpasar, Nov 8 (ANTARA) - Bali`s production of dry corn grain is predicted to fall slightly by 0.56 percent this year from last year, the regional office of the Central Bureau Statistic (BPS) said. Many corn growers pick their corncobs when they are not yet ripe resulting in the decline in production of maize grains, Bali`s BPS chief I Gede Suarsa said. "The farmers sell sweet boiled corn on the cobs mainly on the beaches crowded with tourists," Suarsa said here on Thursday. The farmers earn larger profit from boiled corn on cobs than from dry grains, he said. He said long dry season also contributed to the decline in corn production in Bali this year. Corn harvest area declined by 1,379 hectares in the May-August period compared with harvest areas in the previous four months, he said In the September-December period, Bali`s dry corn production is predicted to fall 1,267 tons or 8.86 percent from the same period last year.