Corn (Zea mays L.) is the second most important cereal crop after rice in Indonesia with the cultivation on four million ha. Production of corn in Indonesia has increased in due to high demand for livestock feed, food and industrial uses. Downy mildew (DM) caused by Perenosclospora sorghi is considered NO. 1 biotic constraint of corn production in the country. The Government of Aceh Province invited the International Corn Foundation (ICF) in Seoul, 2007 to breed locally adapted corn cultivars. The first approach was to introduce ICF corn breeding populations from East-Timor, Cambodia, Vietnam, IITA and CIMMYT. Among the introduced materials from East Timor, we found an outstanding open-pollinated (OP) population, "NAI" with high yield potential and tolerance to DM, Southern corn leaf blight caused by Bipolaris maydis and Southern rust caused by Puccinia polysora. The origin of this popution was formed from crosses between Arjuna (Indonesia) and Suwan 5 (Thailand). After three cycles of half sib selection at the Saree Farm in Aceh, a new name, "Jagung Aceh" was given. Jagung means corn in Aceh dialect. The historical Tsunami hit Aceh Province in Dec. 24, 2004 and caused to lost life of 280,000 peoples. Food security has been serious. We hope "Jagung Aceh" shall increase food, feed and indurial uses of corn and will help for economic development. Seeds of Jagung Aceh has been promoted not only in the entire regions of Aceh Province but also for West Kalimantan Province for its outstanding performance under endemic areas of DM.

The historical Tsunami hit Banda Aceh on 24 December, 2004 that killed 280,000 people. The incidence was the center of the world concern. In November of 2007, the governorment of Aceh Province invited the senior author as the President of ICF to initiate corn breeding program for Aceh environments. Germplasm from East Timor, Cambodia, Thailand, and IITA-Nigeria were used to develop locally adapted open-pollinated varieties (OPV). An OPV, "NAI" bred for East Timor using materials from Indonesia and Thailand was selected. The team planted seeds of nine commercial hybrids marketed in Indonesia and Thailand five times with two weeks interval. Through the half-sib improvement of NAI, new name "Jagung Aceh" was given. Jagung means corn in Aceh language. Inbreeding of the selected OPVs and commercial hybrids are intensively carried out with three cycles yearly. Both Jagung Aceh and selected elite hybrids have been used as testers for high combining ability as well as disease and insect tolerance. Major constraints of corn cultivation are Puccinia polysora rust, Exserohilum turcicum blight, downy mildew (Peronosclerospora maydis), ear rots, stem borers, and drought. Storage weevil is the major post harvest problem.