Ministry of Agriculture Prepares Regulations for Partnership between Sugarcane Farmers and Sugar Factories

The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementerian Pertanian – “Kementan”) is currently drafting a Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture ragarding a new partnership pattern between sugarcane farmers and the sugar industry. Director of Seasonal and Perennial Crops at the Directorate General of Plantations at the Ministry of Agriculture, Baginda Siagian, explained that this new regulation will regulate provisions that encourage farmer welfare and the development of the national sugar industry.

“We are trying to create regulations on how to make farmers more prosperous and the sugar industry continue to grow,” Baginda told Hukumonline.

He did not specifically mention what partnership pattern will be regulated in this new regulation, but ensured that efforts to modernize cultivation to increase production are currently the focus of the Kementan. According to Baginda, sugarcane has a vital role in achieving the target of food and energy self-sufficiency which is the government’s current target.

“Production increases, if we can do that, then self-sufficiency will be faster. Sugar self-sufficiency will be faster, yes, later we will support biofuels more solidly,” he said