Gorontalo
Indonesia's 'corn province' with 1/3 of land in maize, yet still 5th poorest province at 15.15% poverty rate.
When Gorontalo separated from North Sulawesi in 2000, it chose corn as its development vehicle. A third of the province's 1.2 million hectares now grows maize, making agriculture the economic backbone—38% of GRDP, higher than any other sector. The strategy created a provincial identity but also a dependency: corn exports reached US$17.8 million FOB value, yet the crop's volatility leaves farmers vulnerable to price swings and weather disruptions.
Twenty-three years into independence, Gorontalo still ranks among Indonesia's five poorest provinces, with 15.15% poverty as of March 2023. The corn monoculture hasn't delivered promised prosperity. In 2024, the province harvested 128,230 hectares producing 625,970 tons of dried maize, but GRDP growth slowed to 4.13%—down from 4.50% the previous year. The middle class feels every food price fluctuation directly.
Gorontalo's bet on a single crop echoes the risks faced by commodity-dependent economies everywhere. By 2026, the province must decide whether to double down on maize—expanding hectarage and seeking higher yields—or diversify into fisheries and other sectors before another drought year exposes the fragility of the corn economy.