Ministry of Transmigration uses satellite imagery for Melolo sugarcane industry

The Indonesian Ministry of Transmigration is utilizing satellite imagery technology to support the development of the sugarcane industry in the Melolo Transmigration Area, East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara. Minister Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara stated that this technology assists in mapping and identifying land suitability and crop health to foster modern agriculture.

In the Melolo area, the sugarcane industry provides significant employment, with approximately 3,500 permanent workers and up to 6,000 during harvest seasons. The sugarcane produced in this region has demonstrated a sugar content (rendemen) of up to 21 percent, significantly higher than the national average of approximately seven percent. The integrated sugar factory, PT Muria Sumba Manis, operates within this development framework.