Indonesia expands sugarcane planting programme to boost domestic sugar production

Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture plans to distribute 5.9 billion sugarcane buds in 2026 as part of a national effort to strengthen domestic production and expand smallholder plantations. The programme will support planting across 99,547 hectares in 10 provinces and 74 districts, identified as priority areas for sugarcane development.

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to increase cultivation areas while improving productivity among farmers. According to him, the programme is designed to help meet growing domestic demand for sugar through sustainable agricultural development, reports ANTARA.

“We are making improvements from upstream to downstream, starting with buds and planting patterns to downstream systems and marketing. The goal is simple: farmers must earn profits,” the minister said. 

The government also plans to raise national sugar production to around three million tonnes by 2026 through coordinated plantation expansion and productivity measures.

The acceleration programme began in 2025, when authorities launched large-scale support for farmers to expand planting areas and introduce improved cultivation practices. During that year, the Directorate General of Estates distributed more than 1.9 billion sugarcane buds, covering about 32,096 hectares across seven provinces and 56 districts.

Experts emphasised that access to high-quality planting materials plays a key role in improving both plantation productivity and sugar yields. The ministry is strengthening cooperation with regional administrations, nurseries and farmers to ensure effective distribution and support the continued growth of Indonesia’s sugarcane sector.