Indonesia Pushes for Sugar Self-Sufficiency, Emphasizing Seed Quality and Yield

Indonesia is pushing for national sugar self-sufficiency within two years, a critical step for food security. PT Aman Agrindo Tbk, a key player in the sugar industry, highlights that achieving this goal hinges on more than just expanding sugarcane fields. The company stresses the importance of boosting productivity through superior seed quality and increasing sugarcane yield.

President Prabowo Subianto has set the ambitious target, aligning with broader national food independence efforts. The government is actively supporting this by accelerating sugarcane rejuvenation programs, developing large-scale sugarcane areas, enhancing productivity, and ensuring adequate seed supply. The Ministry of Agriculture projects national white crystal sugar production to reach approximately 3.04 million tons by 2026.

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Indonesia is not enough to just add sugarcane acreage. Productivity per hectare must also be increased. One of the most important foundations is seed quality. Plants from superior seeds and suited to their land will offer better productivity and yield opportunities.

PT Aman Agrindo Tbk views upstream improvements as vital for success. "Indonesia is not enough to just add sugarcane acreage. Productivity per hectare must also be increased. One of the most important foundations is seed quality," said Andreas Utomo, President Director of PT Aman Agrindo Tbk. He explained that crops from superior seeds, suited to their land, offer better productivity and yield potential.

In the sugar industry, final output depends heavily on sugarcane productivity per hectare and the yield, the percentage of sugar extracted from milled cane. Utomo emphasized that yield improvements require a holistic approach, starting from cultivation. This includes using superior sugarcane varieties, ensuring seed quality, matching varieties to agroclimatic conditions, proper cultivation management, and efficient factory processing. He believes strengthening the sugarcane seed ecosystem through standardized, healthy, productive, and region-appropriate seeds, with wider distribution to farmers, is essential. "Seed improvement is a long-term investment," Utomo stated.

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Seed improvement is a long-term investment. If the quality of the plants from the beginning is better, then the productivity of the sugarcane and its yield potential can also increase. Therefore, the national sugarcane rejuvenation program ideally should not only talk about how many hectares of land are rejuvenated, but also about the quality of the varieties.