RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Lampung Province is a strong contender to become a national hub for cassava development. The region produces over 70 percent of Indonesia's cassava, has a thriving processing industry, and is further bolstered by the University of Lampung's new National Cassava Center.

Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas) Rachmat Pambudy said that cassava development holds great promise, given its status as one of Indonesia's strategic food commodities.

Speaking at the inauguration of the National Cassava Center at the University of Lampung on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Rachmat noted that Indonesia has a significant opportunity to emerge as a key player in the cassava sector.

With a target productivity of 60 tons per hectare, he believes cassava has the potential to serve as a strategic raw material that can strengthen national competitiveness while driving economic growth based on local resources.

He also noted that the rise in cassava prices from approximately Rp600–700 per kilogram last year to around Rp2,200 per kilogram today opens up greater opportunities to improve farmers' welfare. "This is our moment to bring prosperity to our cassava farmers," Minister Rachmat said as quoted by Antara.

At the same event, Lampung Governor Rahmat Mirzani Djausal stated that the province has long been the backbone of national cassava production. Over 70 percent of the country's cassava production comes from the province, and eight of its 15 regencies are production hubs supported by the tapioca industry.

"Cassava has become a crop of the people in Lampung," said Rahmat Mirzani.

He expressed hope that the National Cassava Center would strengthen Lampung's position as an innovation hub for cassava development while supporting the national food security targets outlined in the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).

The University of Lampung's National Cassava Center has been established as a Center of Excellence. It is focused on strengthening cassava research, developing the value chain from start to finish, and fostering collaboration among universities, the government, industry leaders, and farmers.

The center will formulate a market-oriented, innovation-driven national cassava development roadmap to increase the competitiveness of Indonesian cassava products.

University of Lampung Rector Lusmeilia Afriani emphasized that all research outcomes will deliver direct benefits to farmers. "We also have a mobile unit to assist farmers across Lampung Province. We want to ensure that farmers are the primary beneficiaries of all the innovations being developed," she said.

Through collaboration among the central government, local administrations, universities, industry, and farmers, the National Cassava Center is expected to strengthen Lampung's position as a national hub for cassava development and propel Indonesia to become a globally competitive center for the crop.

"Let us transform the National Cassava Center into an International Cassava Center at the University of Lampung," said Lusmeilia. ***