“This (bioethanol) is a highly promising renewable energy source, and we possess vast agricultural land ideal for sugar palm cultivation,” he said during a dialogue with forest farmers in Parakan Village, Garut District, West Java, on Saturday (May 10).
Antoni noted that President Prabowo Subianto has set a target to plant sugar palms on 1.2 million hectares of land, starting around 300 thousand hectares planned for development in 2025.
“The President has instructed that 300 thousand hectares be planted with sugar palms this year,” he emphasized.
Explaining the strategy behind the target, Antoni highlighted that each hectare of sugar palm plantation could yield up to 24 thousand kiloliters of bioethanol.
“If we can cultivate sugar palms on one million hectares, the resulting bioethanol could significantly reduce our dependence on imported fuel,” he added.
Garut, he said, is among the key regions identified for its strong potential in both sugar palm cultivation and bioethanol production.
Also speaking at the event, Garut District Head Abdusy Syakur Amin, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Forestry for its commitment to supporting local communities in utilizing sugar palm as a sustainable economic resource.
“We would like to request technological assistance to improve palm sugar processing,” Amin stated.
Meanwhile, Nur Asiyah, a representative of the local farmers’ group, shared that sugar palms currently occupy five of the 25 hectares of cultivable land in Parakan Village.
“In addition to producing sugar, these palms help protect water sources and support bioethanol production,” she noted.
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Translator: Feri P, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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