Surabaya, East Java, Dec. 23 -- Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman set a target of developing 70,000 hectares of sugarcane plantations in East Java as part of the national program to accelerate downstream plantation development to strengthen national sugar production.

"The national target is 100,000 hectares, and we are developing 70,000 hectares in East Java due to its vast potential and land availability," he remarked in a meeting in Surabaya on Tuesday.

The minister stated that with about half of the country's sugarcane plantations located in East Java, the province plays a key role in efforts to reach national sugar self-sufficiency.

East Java is considered to have extensive experience, human resources, and supporting infrast...