Indonesian sugarcane farmers urge investment in bioethanol infrastructure

The Indonesian Sugarcane Farmers Association (APTRI) is calling for a more comprehensive approach to the government’s bioethanol E50 program. APTRI Chairman Soemitro Samadikoen emphasized that providing land for sugarcane cultivation is insufficient without a supporting industrial ecosystem. He noted that the government's plan to allocate up to 2 million hectares—with 1 million dedicated to sugarcane—would require approximately 100 processing plants to ensure crops can be processed near plantations.

Samadikoen urged local governments to attract investors by ensuring readiness in infrastructure, licensing, electricity, and labor. He cited the Bojonegoro model in East Java as an example of how regional authorities can facilitate investment through integrated support.

In a separate discussion during a parliamentary hearing, Commission IV member Endang Setyawati Thohari highlighted the need for detailed regional data on sugarcane yield (rendemen). She advocated for mapping agroecological conditions to improve productivity and competitiveness. Thohari also called for an investigation into the factors causing yield declines, including the potential impact of government policies or competition from imports, and suggested stronger coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and farmers' associations.