The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) through the Directorate General of Plantations continues to make efforts and anticipate quickly to meet the availability and needs of national sugar. In order to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar consumption by 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture is trying to encourage increased sugar production through extensification and intensification of sugar cane.

Developing the sugar cane commodity is not easy, it is faced with various challenges, but this has not stopped the government from finding appropriate solutions to encourage and increase the production of sugar cane and sugar. This increase in production must be carried out to meet national needs and anticipate possible global crises.

“In order to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar consumption by 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture is trying to encourage an increase in sugar production through extensification, increasing the area of ​​sugar cane plantations and intensification through dismantling ratoons and maintaining ratoons,” said Andi Nur Alam Syah, Director General of Plantations (14/02).

Apart from that, he said, the government also continues to accelerate production through preparing tiered sugar cane seeds (seed plantations) and structuring varieties, implementing a sugar cane purchasing system (SPT) according to the results produced and implementing the PG Partnership pattern with farmers in one management, as well as utilizing idle land. or forestry land through land management cooperation to reduce land rental costs.

“Hopefully the various efforts and strategic steps we are taking can have a significant impact on increasing production so that national sugar and sugar cane needs can be met,” hoped Andi Nur.

On a different occasion, Ardi Praptono, Director of Seasonal Crops and Spices, Directorate General of Plantations, Ministry of Agriculture explained, “In addition to national sugar self-sufficiency efforts for both consumption and industry, the Indonesian Government is also launching a Bioethanol Program from Sugarcane for energy security in November 2022,” he explained. .

Furthermore, Ardi said, this program is a solution to increase national Bioethanol production in 2030. Sugar cane bioethanol can be used as a fuel mixture for petrol.

“This has great potential. The energy produced from 1 ton of sugar cane is equivalent to 1.2 barrels of crude oil. “It is hoped that sugar cane bioethanol can strengthen Indonesia’s energy security, as well as increase the motivation of farmers and sugar factories so that they can increase the quantity and quality of sugar cane produced,” he hoped.

It is known that East Java Province is listed as the province with the highest national production of sugar cane and sugar. This increase in production could be an opportunity for Indonesia to achieve sugar self-sufficiency.

“It is hoped that farmers can collaborate with research centers and related parties to produce quality sugarcane seeds with good yield levels and of course in accordance with applicable regulations. “The yield results will be good if they come from good quality seeds supported by appropriately measured ratoon unloading,” he hoped.

According to him, people’s sugar cane farmers can open businesses in the field of sugar raw materials. For this reason, it is necessary to improve coordination and synchronization as well as the use of digitalization in sugarcane development, both from farmers and other related parties.

“Of course, the expected results from this policy of increasing national sugar production, one of which is that it can help reduce dependence on imported sugar so that in the future we can minimize sugar imports and fulfill national sugar consumption needs in achieving national sugar self-sufficiency,” he explained.

Furthermore, Ardi explained, Apart from that, the positive impact felt was the increasing interest of sugar cane farmers in providing good and quality sugar raw materials as well as increasing the welfare of sugar cane farmers.

“Another benefit of this policy is the increasing competitiveness of the sugar cane-based industry in Indonesia, getting better in terms of investment, supply of sugar cane raw materials and the quality of the sugar produced,” he said.

One of them is proven by the success of sugar cane farmers from Central Java, who appreciate the government’s assistance, especially the Ministry of Agriculture, through the sugar cane expansion program in order to achieve sugar self-sufficiency. It is felt that this extensification activity has made the economy move where many members of society, especially those involved in planting and cutting, have been empowered thereby increasing farmers’ income.

sumber : ditjenbun.pertanian.go.id/kementan-dorong-peningkatan-produksi-tebu-demi-wujudkan-swasembada-gula/