C Java Aims to Achieve Sugarcane Self-Reliance by 2013

ANTARA - Central Java province has set itself a target of achieving self-reliance in sugarcane production by 2013, an official said.

Head of the Central Java Provincial Plantation Office Teguh Winarno said here on Sunday 60 thousand to 70 thousand hectares of sugarcane plantations will be needed to achieve the goal.

"At present Central Java has around 53 thousand hectares of sugarcane plantations capable of producing 227 thousand tons of sugarcane," he said.

Yet, every effort will be made to expand the area of sugarcane plantations by, among other things, asking directors of state plantation companies in the province to set aside part of their land for sugarcane plantations, he said.

"If each of the plantation companies is willing to allocate around 20 percent of their land for sugarcane plantation, the ideal need for sugarcane plantations can be met," he said.

In addition, he said his office will also team up with the state forestry company Perum Perhutani in meeting the need for sugarcane plantations.

Central Java produced 220 thousand tons of sugar last year, well below its annual sugar consumption of 360 thousand tons.

"To meet the sugar needs, the province imported around 98 thousand tons of refined sugar (last year)," he said. s