The Indonesian government plans to distribute 5.9 billion sugarcane buds in 2026 to expand cultivation and help the country move closer to sugar self-sufficiency. Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said the planting material will cover 99,547 hectares across 10 provinces and 74 districts, mainly to support smallholder farmers and improve productivity in key sugarcane-growing areas, Antara reported.
The initiative is aimed mainly at strengthening smallholder plantations while improving productivity in major sugarcane-growing regions. Officials say the move is part of a wider plan to meet the country’s growing domestic sugar demand.
The government has made the development of the sugarcane sector a priority as it works to reduce dependence on imported sugar and strengthen the domestic industry.
“We are improving the entire system, from planting materials and cultivation patterns to marketing,” Sulaiman said, adding that the main goal is to ensure farmers earn better returns.
Authorities are targeting national sugar production of about three million tonnes by 2026 through the expansion of plantation areas and improved farming practices. The effort is linked to the country’s broader plan to strengthen food security.
The acceleration programme began in 2025 to quickly expand smallholder plantations and increase yields through better planting materials. During that year, the Agriculture Ministry’s Directorate General of Estates distributed 1.93 billion sugarcane buds, covering about 32,096 hectares based on a requirement of 60,000 buds per hectare.
Sulaiman said the earlier phase of the programme was carried out in seven provinces and 56 districts, marking the first step in the government’s long-term plan to expand sugar production.
Acting Director General of Estates Abdul Roni Angkat said access to high-quality planting material is key to improving plantation productivity and increasing farmers’ yields.
He said the government will work closely with regional administrations, nurseries and farmers to ensure the timely distribution of the buds.
Officials believe that expanding smallholder plantations and providing better planting materials will gradually increase sugar output and improve farmers’ incomes while reducing the country’s reliance on imported sugar.
