Minister of Agriculture Accelerates Ratoon Clearing, Targets White Sugar Self-Sufficiency Within Two Years

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman is accelerating the massive implementation of a ratoon clearing programme for unproductive sugarcane plants, aiming to achieve white sugar self-sufficiency within the next two years.

“The President’s directive is that white sugar self-sufficiency must be achieved within two years at the latest. God willing, we will carry out large-scale ratoon clearing,” he stated during a working visit to the head office of PT Sinergi Gula Nusantara (SGN) in Surabaya on Wednesday.

The Minister explained that ratoon plants aged 12, seven, and up to 15 years will be cleared and replanted, with a target of approximately 100,000 hectares each year. Given the massive scale of the effort, Amran is optimistic that the entire programme can be completed within two years, supported by a budget approved by President Prabowo Subianto.

Meanwhile, President Director of PT Sinergi Gula Nusantara, Mahmudi, affirmed his company’s readiness to implement the government’s directives by strengthening collaboration with private sugar mills and increasing support for sugarcane farmers.

“Essentially, we must accelerate sugar self-sufficiency. The Minister’s directive serves as motivation for PT SGN, together with private sugar mills, to move forward collectively, particularly by paying greater attention to farmers,” Mahmudi said.

Mahmudi outlined several forms of support for farmers, including a ratoon clearing assistance programme, provision of tractors, and various other cultivation support measures. He stressed that the success of the self-sufficiency acceleration programme depends not only on increasing the sugar industry’s capacity but also on successfully boosting productivity at the farmer level. Therefore, PT SGN will continue to expand mentoring, mechanisation, and crop rejuvenation programmes as part of the joint effort to achieve national sugar independence in line with the government’s target.