BRIN: Cassava Has Potential to Become a Source of Sustainable Income and Food
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Professor of Agricultural Economics Research from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Robert Asnawi, revealed that cassava has great potential to become a source of sustainable income and food in Indonesia.
In a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday, Robert mentioned that more than 80 per cent of cassava production in Indonesia is still sold in fresh form. This opens up significant opportunities to increase added value for farmers.
Regarding productivity, Robert said that the current average is around 26 tonnes per hectare. According to him, the potential could reach 50 to 60 tonnes per hectare.
He also encouraged the optimisation of national production to respond to the growing trend of increasing demand for alternative foods.
“This should result in cassava having great potential to become a food substitute while strengthening national food security,” he stated.
According to him, a comprehensive transformation is needed, covering productivity improvements through cultivation technology innovations, transparent quality-based pricing, and strengthening inclusive partnerships between farmers and industry.
In addition, the implementation of more efficient planting systems is seen as capable of increasing harvests by more than double. Farmers can also utilise land with intercropping systems, such as planting maize or soybeans, to increase income and reduce risks.
According to Robert, the inclusive partnership model is a key element in this transformation. Industry should not only act as a buyer but also as a partner supporting the provision of seeds, production facilities, and guidance.
The development of cassava, he said, must be directed towards increasing added value through downstream processing of products, strengthening farmer institutions, and building a more inclusive distribution system.
“This transformation is not just about technology, but also concerns economic, social, and institutional aspects,” he said.
With such great potential, he hopes that cassava can become a strategic national commodity.