Indonesia inaugurates National Cassava Center to boost strategic crop

Indonesia's Minister of National Development Planning and Head of Bappenas, Rachmat Pambudy, inaugurated the National Cassava Center at the University of Lampung. The centre aims to develop cassava as a strategic food commodity, targeting a productivity of 60 tons per hectare and positioning the crop as a raw material to enhance national competitiveness and economic growth.

The launch highlighted a recent price rise from roughly Rp600‑700 to about Rp2,200 per kilogram, creating opportunities to raise cassava farmers' welfare. Lampung Governor Rahmat Mirzani Djausal noted that the province supplies over 70 % of Indonesia's cassava output. The centre will coordinate research, value‑chain development, and mobile assistance units to directly benefit farmers and support food‑security goals outlined in the 2025‑2029 national development plan.