Indonesian Air Force Successfully Builds National Sugarcane Plantations
The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) is typically associated with fighter jets, transport aircraft, and its elite orange-beret troops. However, these air warriors have proven capable on the ground, with their agricultural output now supporting the national food supply.
Their success lies in sugarcane cultivation. The Air Force has declared that it has met 45.05 percent of the national sugar requirement for 2026 through its managed plantations. This achievement was recognised by President Prabowo Subianto during a grand harvest at Abdulrachman Saleh Air Force Base in Malang, East Java.
The TNI AU manages 236,048 hectares of plantations with a potential production of 18.386 million tonnes of sugarcane, equivalent to 1.36 million tonnes of sugar. This figure represents 45.05 percent of the 2026 national sugar production target. With this achievement, the president’s target for replanting sugarcane fields across Indonesia appears easily attainable. During the harvest event, Prabowo instructed the Minister of Agriculture to rejuvenate 100,000 hectares of sugarcane land within four years, though the minister boldly claimed it could be done in two years. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture recorded 796,187 sugarcane farmers managing 520,823 hectares of harvest land as of November 2025.
The Air Force’s agricultural involvement is not new. Since the leadership transition from President Joko Widodo to President Prabowo Subianto, the TNI AU has actively run food security programmes, cultivating vegetables and fruits. These activities are carried out by airbases across Indonesia, utilising surrounding land to create food reserves in partnership with local farmers and communities. The harvests are available for direct consumption or further processing by the public.
This same concept was applied to sugarcane cultivation, with the Air Force providing seeds, fertiliser, and all supporting facilities. Data indicates that eight airbases manage sugarcane plantations: Iswahjudi in Magetan, Adisutjipto in Bantul, Adi Soemarmo in Boyolali, Sultan Hasanuddin in Takalar, Muljono in Pasuruan, Jenderal Besar Soedirman in Purbalingga, Sugiri Sukani in Majalengka, and Pangeran M Bun Yamin in Lampung. The planting process began in 2025 at several of these bases. The entire land management process, from planting and maintenance to harvesting, is carried out by Air Force personnel with the assistance of local sugarcane farmers. For instance, Iswahjudi Air Force Base manages 68 hectares of agricultural land, with 62 hectares dedicated to sugarcane of the Bulu Lawang variety, yielding an estimated 60 tonnes per hectare with a 6 percent sugar content, and involving over 100 local farmers.