Cassava as an Economic Solution and Food Security in Indonesia: https://jabarjuara.co/read/singkong-sebagai-solusi-ekonomi-dan-ketahanan-pangan-di-indonesia/14 October 2024

Indonesia produces cassava in very large quantities. In 2023, national cassava production will reach 18.3 million tons. This number makes Indonesia one of the largest cassava producing countries in the world. Production areas are spread across 13 provinces, with the five largest cassava producing provinces being Lampung, Central Java, East Java, West Java, and DI Yogyakarta.

Indonesia has a great opportunity to expand the cassava market to the international arena. Processed cassava products, such as cassava chips and flour, are starting to attract the attention of consumers in the United States and Europe. The increasingly open global market provides great opportunities for Indonesian farmers and producers to improve the quality and diversification of cassava products, while increasing their competitiveness in the international market.

Tapioca Import Must Less: http://agro.kemenperin.go.id/4178-Impor-Tapioka-Harus-Dikurangi/14 October 2016

Prices of cassava in the country has fallen dramatically. The factory receives cassava at a price of Rp750 / kilogram (kg), while farmgate prices ranged Rp500 / kg. Secretary of Cassava Growers Association Indonesia (HIPSINDO) East Java Muhasyim said this price is reasonable, given the economic price of cassava in above Rp1,200. Certainly thousands of cassava farmers, including in East Java suffered considerable losses. Prices of cassava fell because of the policy import of starch (made from cassava) issued by the Ministry of Trade. Until June 2016 recorded 416,000 tonnes of tapioca flour was imported into Indonesia. Flour imported annually reaches more than 1 million tons. The cheaper price, better quality, and the certainty of continuous supply is the reason manufacturers prefer imported tapioca flour.

Farmers have to wait eight months to harvest cassava, and when the harvest season (August to November), the government is still open faucets imported tapioca flour. As a result the price of cassava was down, so it is expected the Ministry of Trade and Ministry of Agriculture should immediately find a solution to save the cassava farmers.