In an official statement received here, he informed that the government is expanding sugar cane plantations in a number of locations.
Through Presidential Regulation No. 40 of 2023, the government has set the target of increasing sugar cane production by carrying out several efforts.
Overall, the government is aiming to boost national sugar production in 2024–2028 to 3.4 million tons.
Qolbi said that the government is carrying out intensification efforts such as rejuvenation and treatment of ratoons or new shoots of sugar cane.
"To meet the needs of quality sugar cane seeds, we need to take several strategic steps, such as providing superior seeds in stages or using tissue culture methods, variety structuring, strengthening supervision of seed distribution, and optimizing the Sugarcane Seed Producers Forum," he informed.
Meanwhile, the ministry's director general of plantations, Andi Nur Alam Syah, stressed the need for a commitment to providing and absorbing quality seeds to support the achievement of the production target.
Syah said that the owners of sugar cane seed varieties must be committed to providing quality varieties, and stakeholders, such as sugar mills, must guarantee the absorption of sugar cane produced by plantation owners.
Sugar cane farmers must optimize their production to support the sustainability of sugar production, he added.
"To ensure the availability of superior sugar cane seeds, farmers must collaborate with research institutions, one of which is the Indonesian Sugar Plantation Research Center (P3GI)," he said.
Sugar cane plantation smallholders can also collaborate with the government in producing high-yielding variety seeds, he added.
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Translator: Farhan N, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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