Indonesia Aims for Sugar Self-Sufficiency by Boosting Domestic Production

Strategic Expansion in East Java

Indonesia's Agriculture Minister, Andi Amran Sulaiman, has announced an ambitious plan to achieve sugar self-sufficiency by next year through a comprehensive agricultural development program. The strategy focuses on East Java, which currently accounts for more than 50% of the nation's sugarcane production.

Key Components of the Sugar Self-Sufficiency Plan

The government plans to expand sugarcane plantations by 100,000 hectares nationally, with a significant portion - 70,000 hectares (70%) - allocated to East Java. To support this expansion, the ministry will distribute 100 tractors and other essential agricultural machinery to local farmers. The initial requirement is around 35,000 hectares, but available reserve land amounts to 68,000 hectares, providing a solid foundation for the ambitious target.

Implementation Timeline

The development will be executed in phases starting immediately and continuing through the first quarter of next year. Amran Sulaiman expressed confidence that success in East Java would pave the way for national self-sufficiency, stating, "If East Java succeeds, nationally we will, God willing, not import white sugar next year."

Economic Implications

This initiative represents a significant shift in Indonesia's agricultural policy, aiming to reduce dependence on sugar imports while supporting local farmers through modern agricultural equipment and expanded cultivation areas. The success of this program could have positive implications for Indonesia's trade balance and agricultural sector employment.