Bulog reaffirms commitment to support Blora sugarcane farmers

Perum Bulog has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the welfare of sugarcane farmers in Blora Regency by assisting in the distribution of community sugarcane harvests to sugar factories (PG) owned by PT Sinergi Gula Nusantara (SGN) or subsidiaries of PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) spread across Central Java. Bulog’s President Director, Dr. Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, stated in Semarang, Central Java, on Thursday, that this step is part of Bulog’s efforts to strengthen the national food ecosystem while ensuring that farmers’ harvests are optimally absorbed by the domestic sugar processing industry. Additionally, Bulog is prepared to act as a facilitator bridging the needs of farmers with the capacity of the national sugar industry. “We are committed to being present among farmers, including in Blora, to ensure their sugarcane harvests can be properly channelled to sugar factories, thereby providing added value and market certainty for farmers,” he said. This commitment also serves as a constructive response to the dynamics developing in the field, including actions to express aspirations by some sugarcane farmers in Blora. Bulog views these aspirations as part of a shared concern to improve the national sugarcane and sugar trade system to be more favourable to farmers. Bulog emphasises that it continues to coordinate with various stakeholders, including local government, PTPN, and SGN, to ensure the absorption process runs smoothly and provides maximum benefits for farmers. Through this step, Bulog hopes to quell various negative perceptions that have emerged, while demonstrating the real presence of the state in safeguarding the stability of the food sector and farmers’ welfare.