Jakarta (Indonesia Window) - The total potential expansion of the plasma area outside Java reaches 66,000 hectares, or 63.5 percent of the land for the ten new sugar factories covering 103,900 hectares, the Government News Network (JPP) made a report as quoted by Indonesia Window here, Sunday.

The report said that of the ten sugar mills, six were outside Java with an average productivity of 7.7 tons of sugar / hectare.

Thus, the increase in sugar production that will be produced to meet consumption needs with the development of plasma areas outside Java is 508,200 tons.

Data from the Directorate General of Plantations show that the need for consumption of sugar or white sugar is 2.8 million tons. Of this amount 2.5 million tons were met from national production, while 300 thousand tons were imported.

According to the Director General of Plantations at the Ministry of Agriculture, Kasdi Subagyono, the development of plasma areas outside Java will meet domestic needs of sugar consumption.

He added, the government would build 15 sugar factories from 2020 to 2024 to meet the industry's sugar needs of 3.2 million tons by 2029.

Sugar cane development areas outside of Java have begun in Lampung, West Nusa Tenggara, Southeast Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, and South Sumatra Provinces.

Reporting by Indonesia Window