President Jokowi Pushes for National Sugar Self-sufficiency
President Jokowi has a dialogue with Brazilian sugarcane researcher Dr. Plinio and Indonesian sugarcane farmers in Mojokerto regency, East Java province, Friday (11/04) (Photo by: PR of BPMI Presidential Secretariat/Laily Rachev).
The Government continued to boost Indonesia’s food self-sufficiency, including sugar. Therefore, it has provided approximately 700 thousand hectares of land for sugarcane plantation considering that there is only 180 thousand hectares of land for the plantation today.
The statement was made by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Friday (11/04) after inspecting the Temu Giring sugarcane field in Mojokerto regency, East Java province.
President Jokowi went on to say that the provided land is spread in several regions all over Indonesia. With such land, he expressed his optimism that Indonesia can achieve national sugar self-sufficiency in five years ahead.
“Indeed, East Java province is a site of sugarcane cultivation. Central Java and West Java provinces are also the same. Later, we will encourage other regions outside Java island considering 700 thousand hectares of land is not a small area. But I will do my best to provide it,” the President stated.
On that occasion, the Head of State also had a dialogue with sugarcane farmers on sugarcane planting with new variety.
“On sugarcane, we have started something new. We use brand new variety. Earlier, Dr. Plinio Nastari (Brazilian sugarcane researcher) said that nitrate fertilizer and potash fertilizer are not needed considering that the soil quality here is fertile,” President Jokowi added.
The President further said that sugarcane planting with new variety in 26 days showed a positive result. Moreover, it also showed a better result than Brazil.
“Usually in Brazil, the sugarcane grows two trunks, while in Indonesia it grows four or five trunks. It’s amazing,” President Jokowi said.
Furthermore, the President expressed his hope that huge capacity of sugarcane cultivation will support national energy security. (DND/UN) (AP/HD/LW)
