Cirebon, West Java (ANTARA): According to a report by Anatara News, Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo has emphasized the importance of cultivating high-quality sugarcane varieties in Indonesia to bolster sugar production and achieve self-sufficiency.
During his visit to Cirebon, West Java, Minister Limpo highlighted the current situation where sugar production in the country stands at 2.4 million tonnes, while the demand reaches 3.2 million tonnes, resulting in an 800 thousand tonne deficit. To bridge this gap, he stressed the significance of utilizing superior cane crops and increasing overall production.
Minister Limpo further emphasized the need to improve cane yield rates, as the current average yield stands at 7%. He urged for concerted efforts to raise the yield rate to 9%.
Providing insight into the cane cultivation landscape, the minister revealed that the total area dedicated to cane cultivation spans 448 thousand hectares, with small farmers occupying 243 thousand hectares and companies covering 205 thousand hectares.
In pursuit of self-sufficiency, the government has set its sights on boosting sugar production to meet domestic needs by 2024, added Minister Limpo.
