PRESIDENT DECLARES PALM SUGAR PROJECT NATIONAL PROGRAM
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has declared the sugar palm development project part of the national food security program and the alternative energy program, like castor oil, sugarcane and cassava development projects.
Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie told the press at the Presidential Office here Thursday that the President made the decision after receiving information about the prospect of this sugar palm development in the creation of job opportunities, alleviation of poverty, enhancement of food security and production of alternative energy resources.
North Sulawesi now has a factory that processes palm sugar into crystal sugar, according to Aburizal. This is the first sugar processing factory in the world, which is oriented to export, has given jobs to 2,222 farmers who serve as sap tappers.
The price of crystal sugar is Rp50,000/kg, and 30 percent of this palm sugar consists of molasses, a basic material for ethanol, which can be used as an alternative energy source.
In the implementation of the sugar development program, the government plans to build six processing factories in North Sumatra, West Java, East Java, Southeast Sulawesi, West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan at a total cost of Rp60 billion from the State Budget in 2007.
The operation of the six new processing factorie is expected to open job opportunities for some 300,000 workers, Aburizal said, and pointed out there are 800,000 of sugar palm plantations in Indonesia today. The optimal cultivation of those plantations will give jobs to some five million people, he added.
The President is scheduled to visit Tomohon, North Sulawesi province, in December 2006 to inaugurate the second crystal sugar factory in Indonesia. On the occasion, the President will hold a dialogue with sugar palm farmers in the province. (*)
Copyright © 2006 ANTARA
October 13, 2006
Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie told the press at the Presidential Office here Thursday that the President made the decision after receiving information about the prospect of this sugar palm development in the creation of job opportunities, alleviation of poverty, enhancement of food security and production of alternative energy resources.
North Sulawesi now has a factory that processes palm sugar into crystal sugar, according to Aburizal. This is the first sugar processing factory in the world, which is oriented to export, has given jobs to 2,222 farmers who serve as sap tappers.
The price of crystal sugar is Rp50,000/kg, and 30 percent of this palm sugar consists of molasses, a basic material for ethanol, which can be used as an alternative energy source.
In the implementation of the sugar development program, the government plans to build six processing factories in North Sumatra, West Java, East Java, Southeast Sulawesi, West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan at a total cost of Rp60 billion from the State Budget in 2007.
The operation of the six new processing factorie is expected to open job opportunities for some 300,000 workers, Aburizal said, and pointed out there are 800,000 of sugar palm plantations in Indonesia today. The optimal cultivation of those plantations will give jobs to some five million people, he added.
The President is scheduled to visit Tomohon, North Sulawesi province, in December 2006 to inaugurate the second crystal sugar factory in Indonesia. On the occasion, the President will hold a dialogue with sugar palm farmers in the province. (*)
Copyright © 2006 ANTARA
October 13, 2006
posted by Zumrowi Yunus at
9:48 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home