Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has called on Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman to involve more young people and academics in the research and development (R&D) of the agricultural sector.
Speaking during a farmers' dialogue in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Tuesday, Gibran said the province’s strong academic presence should be leveraged to support agricultural innovation, especially in the development of sugarcane-derived products like bioethanol.
"I want to stress this, Mr. Minister — get more young people involved, especially now that we're using modern equipment, mechanized tools, and drones," he said.
He added that seed development and downstream processing for sugarcane-based ethanol are two areas where experts and researchers could play a vital role.
He also reaffirmed President Prabowo Subianto’s directive for Indonesia to achieve self-sufficiency in household sugar by 2026, with full sugar self-sufficiency targeted no later than 2028.
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"The President has given a clear instruction: by next year, we must be self-sufficient in household sugar. And by 2027 or 2028 at the latest, we should be fully self-reliant in sugar. This is a shared responsibility," Gibran said.
The vice president underscored the importance of modernizing agriculture to meet these targets, citing drone usage by sugarcane farmers in Sleman as a promising step forward.
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He noted that several farming groups have already requested combine harvesters, and although the machines are expensive, he affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting farmers to increase rice and corn production.
"Whatever challenges we face in the field — water, seeds, fertilizer, market prices, partnerships, or land — we’re committed to solving them as quickly as possible," Gibran emphasized.
