Government Temporarily Stops Imports Of Refined Sugar

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government has decided to temporarily suspend imports of refined sugar or industrial sugar. This temporary suspension was carried out due to the leakage of refined sugar to traditional markets.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan) Sudaryono said the leakage of refined sugar to this traditional market made farmers' sugar accumulate because it was not absorbed.

Sudaryono said the realization of refined sugar imports had reached 70 percent of the total 4 million tons. Therefore, the rest was temporarily suspended from entering Indonesia.

"The decision is that we stop (the import of refined sugar) first, we absorb how domestic sugar can be absorbed properly," he told reporters at the Ministry of Food Affairs Office, Jakarta, Thursday, September 11.

Sudaryono also said that the leakage of refined sugar to traditional markets caused 100,000 tons of farmers' sugar not to be absorbed by the market. This is because the price of refined sugar is much cheaper than the sugar produced by farmers.

The effect is that consumption sugar is produced from farmers who are ground in sugar factories, the absorption is low, 100,000 tons are jammed. So it's detrimental to farmers. Why is this? Because refined sugar is much cheaper than consumption sugar," he said.

"Well, if the sugar is much cheaper, then this is a crime. Already the farmers have been harmed, and he took advantage of it in an incorrect way, that's what we must also be firm in that direction," he continued.

In the future, continued Sudaryono, imports of refined sugar or industrial sugar can be reduced gradually. The hope is that it will not be done again. However, he admits this takes time.

"Right now, this year's target is the need for food self-sufficiency for consumption needs. Now, in the industry, we will slowly have to, we will take the portion so that we are really self-sufficient for food needs and industrial needs," he said.