APTRI Urges Sugar Inclusion in Food Assistance Programme for Farmers' Livelihoods

JAKARTA – The Indonesian Sugar Cane Farmers Association (APTRI) has urged the government to include granulated sugar as a component in the Food Assistance Programme (Banpang).

APTRI Chairman Soemitro Samadikoen said the current Banpang distribution consists of 10 kilograms of rice and two litres of cooking oil per month. He pushed for sugar to be included at a 1:10 ratio with rice volume.

This would allow sugar cane farmers to benefit from price fluctuations. Soemitro stressed the government must balance sugar prices with other food commodities, noting that sugar has traditionally been priced at 1.5 times that of medium-grade rice.

“We want sugar to receive proper recognition. The price should be Rp18,000 per kilogram, or at least that minimum,” he said.

APTRI is also calling for the removal of the Producer Reference Price (HAP) and Consumer Reference Price (HAP) for consumption sugar. The current Producer HAP caps purchases from farmers at Rp14,500 per kilogram, making it difficult for them to secure better prices at auctions.

Additionally, the Production Cost Price (HPP) has remained unchanged since 2024 at Rp14,500 per kilogram. APTRI has proposed raising the HPP to Rp16,875 per kilogram.