RRI.CO.ID, Jakarat - Indonesia speeds up its national sugar self-sufficiency program by fast-tracking a large-scale sugarcane replanting initiative. It reinforces the government's broader strategy to boost food security and reduce reliance on imports.

Indonesia's Agriculture Minister, Andi Amran Sulaiman, announced on Sunday July 19, 2026, that the Ministry of Agriculture is ready to implement President Prabowo Subianto's directive to achieve sugar self-sufficiency within two years, significantly earlier than the previous four-year projection.

He said the accelerated program will focus on modernizing sugarcane cultivation through the use of high-yield seed varieties, agricultural mechanization, improved productivity, and stronger partnerships between farmers and the sugar industry. He emphasized that the initiative is designed to increase domestic sugar production while improving the livelihoods of sugarcane farmers.

"We are ready to carry out the President's directive. The entire Ministry of Agriculture will work to its fullest capacity alongside regional governments, state-owned enterprises, the private sector, and farmers to achieve sugar self-sufficiency within two years," Amran said.

The two-year target was announced by President Prabowo during the National Food Security Harvest event supported by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) in Malang, East Java, on Friday July 17. The President revealed that the ministry initially proposed replanting 100,000 hectares of sugarcane annually to achieve self-sufficiency within four years before agreeing to accelerate the timeline.

Prabowo praised the minister's commitment after hearing the revised proposal but also reminded him to maintain his health amid the demanding workload. "I told him, 'Excellent—but don't end up in the hospital, Minister of Agriculture. You promised two years, but the nation still needs you,'" the President said.

The President described sugar self-sufficiency as part of Indonesia's broader strategy to build national resilience. Following progress toward food self-sufficiency, the government is also pursuing energy independence and expanding access to clean water through long-term development programs.

The Ministry of Agriculture said it will continue overseeing the accelerated sugarcane replanting program in collaboration with local governments, businesses, and farming communities. The government expects the initiative to strengthen Indonesia's food security, reduce import dependence, and create greater economic opportunities for sugarcane producers nationwide.