Agriculture Minister Vows to Accelerate Sugarcane Replanting for Sugar Self-Sufficiency

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has stated his readiness to accelerate the national sugarcane replanting programme to achieve sugar self-sufficiency within two years, in line with the target set by President Prabowo Subianto. “We are ready to carry out the President’s directive. The entire Ministry of Agriculture will work optimally with regional governments, state-owned enterprises, the business sector, and farmers so that the sugar self-sufficiency target can be realised within two years,” the Minister said in a confirmed statement in Jakarta on Sunday. He explained that sugarcane replanting would be carried out through cultivation modernisation, increased productivity, the use of superior seeds, agricultural mechanisation, and strengthened partnerships with farmers and the sugar industry. According to him, this acceleration is a strategic step to increase national sugar production, reduce dependence on imports, and improve the welfare of sugarcane farmers. The Minister emphasised that the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to oversee the acceleration of the replanting programme as part of efforts to achieve sugar self-sufficiency, strengthen national food security, and increase added value and welfare for sugarcane farmers across Indonesia. President Prabowo Subianto has targeted Indonesia to achieve sugar self-sufficiency within two years. This target is faster than the initial four-year projection and is part of the government’s accelerated agenda to strengthen national food independence. The target was conveyed by the President while attending a mass harvest event supporting the National Food Security Programme in Malang Regency, East Java, on Friday. The President revealed that Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman had previously reported a sugarcane replanting programme of 100,000 hectares per year, which was projected to achieve self-sufficiency in four years. However, after discussion, the Minister stated the target could be accelerated to two years. Hearing this commitment, the President expressed his appreciation to the Minister in front of thousands of attendees. The President also delivered a special message to the Minister, which was met with applause, urging him to stay healthy while pursuing the ambitious target. The President stressed that accelerating sugar self-sufficiency is part of the government’s grand strategy to strengthen national independence. Having achieved food self-sufficiency targets, the government is now moving towards energy self-sufficiency and strengthening water security. He also expressed pride in the hard work of all government elements, the military, the police, and farmers who continue to oversee strategic national programmes.