Minister: Downstreaming of 870,000 hectares of smallholder plantations accelerated

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman has reported to President Prabowo Subianto that the government is continuing to accelerate the downstream programme for smallholder plantations, covering an area of 870,000 hectares across various regions.

“We are downstreaming our plantations. Together with our colleagues and our food-related State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), we are performing acceleration. Acceleration of downstreaming and planting. Planting cocoa, coffee, cashew, coconut, and sugarcane,” said Amran after attending a limited meeting with President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday.

He stated that the acceleration of downstreaming is being carried out alongside planting programmes for various plantation commodities, which commenced in 2025 and will continue until 2027.

According to Amran, the total area of this smallholder plantation programme reaches approximately 870,000 hectares, intended for farmers in various regions of Indonesia, including Papua.

In the downstreaming sector, the Minister noted that the construction of processing facilities for plantation commodities is also progressing in several areas. For the coconut commodity, one downstreaming factory has been established in North Maluku. In addition to North Maluku, the construction of downstreaming facilities is also underway in Morowali, Central Sulawesi, and Indragir Hilir, Riau.

“Downstreaming is being accelerated and, God willing, this 870,000-hectare plantation sector is for the people of all Indonesia; for our farmers, this is a grant and will create new jobs,” he said.

Furthermore, Amran also reported that the distribution of agricultural assistance in Papua has reached approximately Rp3.2 trillion this year, up from around Rp2 trillion last year.

This assistance includes grants for agricultural tools and machinery, the development of paddy fields, and programmes to increase agricultural productivity for the community.

Amran stated that President Prabowo has directed that these assistance programmes continue, as they are aimed directly at the community and farmers.

“Yesterday, our brothers—200 governors, regents, and farmers, along with heads of departments—came to us. We provided assistance there amounting to Rp3.2 trillion this year, and Rp2 trillion last year, totalling more than Rp5.5 trillion. We reported this to the President, and he said to continue this assistance,” said Amran.