INDONESIA SELF-SUFFICIENT IN SUGAR BY 2019

Situbondo, 9 Muharram 1437/ 22 October 2015 (MINA) – The Minister of State Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno optimistic that Indonesia will achieve self-sufficiency in sugar by 2019 considering the number of sugar factories which have been producing good quality products.

“I believe that in 2019 Indonesia will not import sugar again,” he said on his visit to the Sugar Factory (PG) Asembagus, Situbondo, East Java, on Thursday. Antaranews quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

He explained that one example Asembagus sugar product is now able to enter the food and beverage factories. It means that they indicated the good quality product.

The yield of sugarcane in Asembagus already reached 10 percent. it reinforces his belief in the independence of Indonesia in fulfilling the needs of domestic sugar.

Rini promised to fight for the aspirations of sugar cane farmers, including provisions for a maximum of four hectares of land ownership or allocation of fertilizer subsidy.

“We’ll talk about the regulations with the Ministry of Agriculture, while for the financing of capital, I will talk to state banks for the credit application,” Rini promised.

“We are a great nation, the land is fertile, but we still unable yet to compate with Thailand. Therefore, let us work together. I ask the farmer to keep the spirit,” he said. (L/P008/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)