President Prabowo Targets Sugar Self-Sufficiency Within Two Years, Agriculture Ministry Prepares Acceleration Steps
MALANG — President Prabowo Subianto has set a target for Indonesia to achieve sugar self-sufficiency within two years. The target is faster than the initial four-year projection and forms part of the government’s accelerated agenda to strengthen national food independence.
The target was announced by the President while attending the Grand Harvest in support of the TNI’s National Food Security Programme in Malang Regency, East Java, on Friday (17/7/2026).
On that occasion, the President revealed that Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman had earlier reported a sugarcane rejuvenation programme covering 100,000 hectares per year, projected to deliver sugar self-sufficiency within four years. After further discussion, Minister Amran stated the target could be accelerated to two years.
Hearing this commitment, the President expressed his appreciation to Minister Amran before thousands of attendees.
“The Agriculture Minister reported to me that our programme now is 100,000 hectares per year, which would be achieved in four years. But when I asked him again, he boldly and bravely said, ‘Sir, we can do it in two years,’” said Prabowo.
Prabowo conveyed a special message to Minister Amran, which was greeted with applause from the participants.
“I said that’s good, but don’t end up in hospital, Agriculture Minister. Promise, two years but don’t end up in hospital. The nation and the people still need you,” said Prabowo.
Prabowo emphasised that accelerating sugar self-sufficiency is part of the government’s grand strategy to strengthen the nation’s independence. Having achieved the food self-sufficiency target, the government is now moving towards energy self-sufficiency and strengthening water security.
“Our target of food self-sufficiency has been achieved. Now we are heading towards energy self-sufficiency. Water self-sufficiency is being developed so that all our people have access to clean water and water for crops,” he said.
Prabowo expressed appreciation for the hard work of the entire government apparatus, the TNI, the National Police, ministries, agencies, regional governments and farmers who continue to safeguard various national strategic programmes.
“I am proud to see everyone working hard. The ministers, the TNI Commander, the National Police Chief, everyone working nimbly without rest. Even many senior state officials have collapsed and been admitted to hospital because of hard work,” said Prabowo.
According to Prabowo, this hard work is being carried out to accelerate the realisation of public welfare and to prove that Indonesia is able to stand on its own strength.
“We are chasing these targets because the people have endured for far too long a life that is unworthy of a great and rich nation like Indonesia. We will prove to the world that the Indonesian nation is rising with our own strength. No other nation will build Indonesia other than ourselves,” said Prabowo.
Agriculture Ministry Prepares Acceleration Measures
Responding to Prabowo’s instruction, Amran stated his readiness to accelerate the national sugarcane rejuvenation programme through cultivation modernisation, increased productivity, the use of superior seed varieties, agricultural mechanisation and stronger partnerships with farmers and the sugar industry.
According to him, this acceleration is a strategic step to increase national sugar production, reduce import dependency and improve the welfare of sugarcane farmers.
“We are ready to carry out the President’s instruction. The entire Agriculture Ministry apparatus will work at maximum capacity together with regional governments, state-owned enterprises, the business community and farmers so that the two-year sugar self-sufficiency target can be realised,” said Amran.
Amran affirmed that the Agriculture Ministry will continue to oversee the acceleration of the sugarcane rejuvenation programme as part of efforts to achieve sugar self-sufficiency, strengthen national food security and increase added value and the welfare of sugarcane farmers throughout Indonesia.