Sugar Absorption Helps Farmers, Continued Collaboration Between Government and Private Sector is Expected The challenges faced by farmers are increasingly diverse. Red: Gilang Akbar Prambadi

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The national sugar industry is showing interesting dynamics throughout the 2025 crushing season. Secretary General of the DPP of the Indonesian People's Sugarcane Farmers Association (APTRI), Sunardi Edy Sukamto, reported that the process of crushing sugarcane which began in May 2025 is still ongoing nationally. Then, the production results in the form of white crystal sugar (GKP) and drops this year, the stock of GKP belonging to the farmers is still accumulating. Although production has increased and is approaching the target of self-sufficiency in consumer sugar, he said the market absorption is still weak. According to him, this condition is triggered by the leakage of refined sugar directly sold to the consumer market, making it difficult for sugar from the farmers' crushing to be absorbed. He said, almost every auction of farmers' sugar is lacking in bids, causing uncertainty in prices and income. However, currently, Edy said several strategic ...