{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1756083,
        "msgid": "sugarcane-seeds-as-a-weapon-in-the-fight-against-the-imported-sugar-mafia-1779542411",
        "date": "2026-05-21 22:00:00",
        "title": "Sugarcane Seeds as a Weapon in the Fight Against the Imported Sugar Mafia",
        "author": "Aprillia Ika",
        "source": "KOMPAS",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Agriculture",
        "summary": "The Indonesian government, with sugarcane farmers, launches the Kebun Benih Datar (KBD) sugarcane seed project in Majalengka to bolster high-quality seeds and reduce dependence on imported sugar. Officials say improving seed quality and access will raise productivity and curb the influence of the 'import mafia' across the supply chain.",
        "content": "<p>JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The government, together with sugarcane\nfarmers, has started building a new line of defence against the\ndominance of imported sugar that has for years been seen as suppressing\nnational production. Through the construction of Kebun Benih Datar (KBD)\nsugarcane seed gardens in Majalengka, West Java, on Monday, 19 May 2026,\nthe government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the\nfoundations of the national sugar industry from the upstream sector. The\nKBD sugar programme is projected to become the foundation for\nregenerating national superior seed stock, while also strengthening\ndomestic sugar industry autonomy. In the face of national sugar demand\nreaching millions of tonnes per year, the availability of quality seeds\nis considered the most crucial factor to boost farmers\u2019 land\nproductivity. \u2018If high-quality seeds are widely available and farmers\nhave strong access to modern cultivation, production will rise. That is\nwhere we begin to close the space for the imported sugar mafia which has\ngrown because of weak national production,\u2019 said Nandang during the\nclosing planting event for the KBD sugarcane in Majalengka, broadcast\nThursday (21 May 2026). He added that the national sugar problem does\nnot lie only in the downstream trade sector, but also starts from a weak\nseed system and low productivity on smallholder farms. For years, many\nfarmers have used old planting stock with low productivity, resulting in\nhigh production costs and non-competitive harvests compared to imported\nsugar. Kebun Benih Datar is designed to produce certified sugarcane seed\nwith uniform quality and adaptability to land needs across regions. \u2018We\ncannot keep relying on the old model. The revitalisation of national\nsugar must start with seeds. This KBD will be the hub for developing\nsuperior seed sources that will accelerate farmer productivity,\u2019 said\nEbi.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sugarcane-seeds-as-a-weapon-in-the-fight-against-the-imported-sugar-mafia-1779542411",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}