Indonesian Air Force Commits to Sugar Self-Sufficiency Through Sugarcane Programme
The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) is committed to achieving food self-sufficiency by developing sugarcane management to increase national sugar production. This effort was underscored by the appointment of Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) Air Chief Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Sugarcane Farmers Association (APTRI) in Jember, East Java, on Thursday (9/7).
In a TNI AU press release received in Jakarta on Friday, Tonny stated that he is paying special attention to sugarcane because increasing sugar production is part of strengthening food self-sufficiency, which is included in the national strategic programme. He also noted that the Air Force possesses supporting facilities, including land and human resources, that can be utilised to expand sugarcane cultivation.
Beyond cultivation, Tonny is committed to strengthening the downstream processing of sugarcane so that sugar can become a promising commodity. “The Indonesian Air Force is ready to synergise with the government, state-owned enterprises (BUMN), and APTRI, from land preparation and cultivation assistance to strengthening the downstream sector,” Tonny said.
Meanwhile, Head of the TNI AU Information Service, Air Commodore I Nyoman Suadnyana, confirmed to ANTARA that the Air Force had already been heavily involved in sugarcane cultivation long before the KSAU was elected as APTRI chairman. Sugarcane cultivation has been carried out by the TNI AU on vacant land managed by each airbase. The programme mirrors other land management activities for food security previously undertaken by the Air Force.
“We have taken concrete steps by planting sugarcane on land managed by several airbases, such as Abdulrachman Saleh Airbase in Malang, Adisutjipto Airbase in Yogyakarta, Iswahjudi Airbase in Magetan, and Pangeran M. Bun Yamin Airbase in Lampung,” said I Nyoman. During the planting and maintenance process, the TNI AU cooperates with local residents and sugarcane farmers. The harvest will subsequently be given to the community to meet their consumption and economic needs. I Nyoman confirmed that this sugarcane management initiative will continue and is likely to be expanded to other airbases across Indonesia, with the hope that the Air Force can assist the government in realising food self-sufficiency.