Closing Indonesia’s Sugar Productivity Gap: An Integrated Farm-To-Mill Intensification Strategy for Sustainable Sugar Self-Sufficiency Without Premature Land Expansion—A Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59890/ijgsr.v4i10.6Keywords:
Sugarcane Productivity, Sugar Recovery, Sustainable Intensification, Sugar Self-Sufficiency, Indonesia, Ratoon Management, Milling Efficiency, Precision Agriculture, Value-Chain Governance, Agricultural PolicyAbstract
Indonesia's pursuit of sugar self-sufficiency confronts interconnected challenges involving sugarcane productivity, sucrose recovery, industrial efficiency, smallholder competitiveness, and land-use sustainability. This qualitative literature review critically synthesises research published between 2020 and 2026 to examine how integrated agricultural and industrial interventions can improve recoverable sugar production without excessive reliance on agricultural expansion. The review combines agronomic, technological, institutional, environmental, and value-chain perspectives and develops an Integrated Farm-to-Mill Sugar Productivity and Self-Sufficiency Framework. Its thematic synthesis identifies six mutually reinforcing intervention domains: varietal improvement and ratoon management; soil, nutrient, and water optimisation; precision agriculture; harvesting and logistics; milling modernisation; and farmer-centred innovation governance. Illustrative production scenarios demonstrate that simultaneous improvements in cane yield and sugar recovery can substantially increase output per hectare, although ambitious targets remain conditional on location-specific feasibility, financing, and operational performance. The review further distinguishes self-sufficiency in household-consumption sugar from the broader requirements of industrial sugar markets. It argues that an intensification-first strategy, complemented by targeted industrial investment, transparent recovery measurement, environmental safeguards, and appropriate institutional incentives, provides a more coherent development pathway than expansion-led production growth alone
References
Abouelsoud, M., Khalil, M.Y., Ali, R.H. and Maghrabie, H.M. (2025) 'Performance assessment of a cogeneration system in a sugar cane factory using energy and exergy analysis', Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 65, article 105622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2024.105622
Ajala, E.O., Ighalo, J.O., Ajala, M.A., Adeniyi, A.G. and Ayanshola, A.M. (2021) 'Sugarcane bagasse: A biomass sufficiently applied for improving global energy, environment and economic sustainability', Bioresources and Bioprocessing, 8, article 87. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40643-021-00440-z
Akbarian, S., Jamnani, M.R., Xu, C., Wang, W. and Lim, S. (2024) 'Plot level sugarcane yield estimation by machine learning on multispectral images: A case study of Bundaberg, Australia', Information Processing in Agriculture, 11(4), pp. 476-487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpa.2023.06.004
Anjaly, V., Sindhu, V.K. and Singh, K. (2024) 'Agronomical interventions for improving sugarcane water productivity: A review', Sugar Tech, 26, pp. 1053-1067. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-024-01459-0
Ariyanto, F., Ubaidillah, M. and Hartatik, S. (2023) 'Yield component evaluation of mutated sugarcane at first and ratooning plantations', Jurnal Agronomi Indonesia, 51(1), pp. 73-79. https://doi.org/10.24831/ija.v51i1.41860
Banerjee, N. et al. (2023) 'QTL mapping and identification of candidate genes linked to red rot resistance in sugarcane', 3 Biotech, 13, article 82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-023-03481-7
Calvin, K. et al. (2021) 'Bioenergy for climate change mitigation: Scale and sustainability', GCB Bioenergy, 13(9), pp. 1346–1371. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12863
Canata, T.F., Wei, M.C.F., Maldaner, L.F. and Molin, J.P. (2021) 'Sugarcane yield mapping using high-resolution imagery data and machine learning technique', Remote Sensing, 13(2), article 232. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13020232
Castro, S.G.Q. de et al. (2023) 'Fertilizer source and application method influence sugarcane production and nutritional status', Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, article 1099589. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1099589
Chantasiriwan, S. (2021) 'Improving energy efficiency of cogeneration system in cane sugar industry by steam dryer', Chemical Engineering Transactions, 87, pp. 511-516. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET2187086
Chen, C. et al. (2024) 'Genomic prediction for sugarcane diseases including hybrid Bayesian-machine learning approaches', Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, article 1398903. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1398903
Cursi, D.E. et al. (2022) 'History and current status of sugarcane breeding, germplasm development and molecular genetics in Brazil', Sugar Tech, 24, pp. 112-133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-021-00951-1
Desalegn, B., Kebede, E. and Legesse, H. (2023) 'Sugarcane productivity and sugar yield improvement: Selecting variety, nitrogen fertilizer rate, and bioregulator as a first-line treatment', Heliyon, 9(4), e15520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15520
Dingre, S.K. (2023) 'Enhancing sugarcane productivity through scientific irrigation water management in Western India', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 93, pp. 301-309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-022-01422-7
Duden, A.S. et al. (2021) 'Hydrological impacts of ethanol-driven sugarcane expansion in Brazil', Journal of Environmental Management, 282, article 111942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.111942
Fioranelli, A. and Bizzo, W.A. (2023) 'Generation of surplus electricity in sugarcane mills from sugarcane bagasse and straw: Challenges, failures and opportunities', Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 186, article 113647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113647
Flack-Prain, S., Shi, L., Zhu, P., da Rocha, H.R., Cabral, O., Hu, S. and Williams, M. (2021) 'The impact of climate change and climate extremes on sugarcane production', GCB Bioenergy, 13(3), pp. 408–424. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12797
Guarenghi, M.M. et al. (2023) 'Land use change net removals associated with sugarcane in Brazil', Land, 12(3), article 584. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030584
Guhan, V. et al. (2024) 'Assessing the impact of climate change on water requirement and yield of sugarcane over different agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu', Scientific Reports, 14, article 8239. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58771-8
Hakim, R.I., Suprehatin and Rifin, A. (2024) 'Understanding heterogeneity in contract farming among Indonesian sugarcane farmers', Jurnal Manajemen dan Agribisnis, 21(1), p. 109. https://doi.org/10.17358/jma.21.1.109
Hiloidhari, M. et al. (2021) 'Energy-carbon-water footprint of sugarcane bioenergy: A district-level life cycle assessment in the state of Maharashtra, India', Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 151, article 111583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111583
Islam, M.S. et al. (2023) 'A first look at the ability to use genomic prediction for improving the ratooning ability of sugarcane', Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, article 1205999. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1205999
Jaiswal, R. et al. (2023) 'Indian sugarcane under warming climate: A simulation study', European Journal of Agronomy, 144, article 126760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2023.126760
Jarumaneeroj, P., Laosareewatthanakul, N. and Akkerman, R. (2021) 'A multi-objective approach to sugarcane harvest planning in Thailand: Balancing output maximization, grower equity, and supply chain efficiency', Computers & Industrial Engineering, 154, article 107129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2021.107129
Konde, K.S., Nagarajan, S., Kumar, V., Patil, S.V. and Ranade, V.V. (2021) 'Sugarcane bagasse based biorefineries in India: Potential and challenges', Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 5, pp. 52-78. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SE01332C
Krishnapriya, V. et al. (2026) 'Strategic considerations for nutrient use efficiency in sugarcane: Physiological, molecular and genetic perspectives', Plant Science, 364, article 112940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112940
Kumar, N. et al. (2024) 'Productivity, water use efficiency and soil properties of sugarcane as influenced by trash mulching and irrigation regimes under different planting systems in sandy loam soils', Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 8, article 1340551. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1340551
Leite, E.A. et al. (2026) 'Assessing climate change impacts on sugarcane yield, crop water productivity, and nitrous oxide emissions across Brazil's bioenergy using the CSM-SAMUCA-sugarcane model', Agricultural Systems, 231, article 104494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104494
Liao, M. and Yao, Y. (2021) 'Applications of artificial intelligence-based modeling for bioenergy systems: A review', GCB Bioenergy, 13(5), pp. 774–802. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12816
Lu, G. et al. (2023) 'Identification of QTLs and critical genes related to sugarcane mosaic disease resistance', Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, article 1107314. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1107314
Maldaner, L.F., Corredo, L.P., Canata, T.F. and Molin, J.P. (2021) 'Predicting the sugarcane yield in real-time by harvester engine parameters and machine learning approaches', Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 181, article 105945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2020.105945
Meena, M.R. et al. (2020) 'Current breeding and genomic approaches to enhance the cane and sugar productivity under abiotic stress conditions', 3 Biotech, 10, article 440. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-020-02416-w
Mehdi, F. et al. (2024) 'Factors affecting the production of sugarcane yield and sucrose accumulation: Suggested potential biological solutions', Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, article 1374228. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1374228
Ministry of Agriculture of Indonesia (2026a) 'Produksi gula 2025 capai 2,67 juta ton, Kementan percepat langkah menuju swasembada', Directorate General of Plantations, 10 February. Available at: https://ditjenbun.pertanian.go.id/produksi-gula-2025-capai-267-juta-ton-kementan-percepat-langkah-menuju-swasembada/
Ministry of Agriculture of Indonesia (2026b) 'Produksi gula 2026 tembus 3,02 juta ton, naik 13 persen menuju swasembada 2027', 26 August. Available at: https://pertanian.go.id/news/view/8092
Ministry of Agriculture of Indonesia (2026c) 'Mentan Amran perkuat industri gula nasional, DPP APTRI: Seluruh pabrik gula rafinasi juga harus bangun kebun sendiri', Ministry press statement. Available at: https://pertanian.go.id/news/view/8000
Misra, V., Mall, A.K., Solomon, S. and Ansari, M.I. (2022) 'Post-harvest biology and recent advances of storage technologies in sugarcane', Biotechnology Reports, 33, e00705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2022.e00705
Moro, V.J. et al. (2026) 'Optimized nitrogen management enhances sugarcane sustainability by balancing yield and N2O emissions', Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 399, article 110192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2025.110192
O'Connell, A. et al. (2022) 'Combining genomic selection with genome-wide association analysis identified a large-effect QTL and improved selection for red rot resistance in sugarcane', Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, article 1021182. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1021182
Oliveira, B.G. et al. (2023) 'New trends in sugarcane fertilization: Implications for NH3 volatilization, N2O emissions and crop yields', Journal of Environmental Management, 342, article 118233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118233
Pan, S., Zabed, H.M., Wei, Y. and Qi, X. (2022) 'Technoeconomic and environmental perspectives of biofuel production from sugarcane bagasse: Current status, challenges and future outlook', Industrial Crops and Products, 188, article 115684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2022.115684
Qin, N. et al. (2023) 'Assessing the drought impact on sugarcane yield based on crop water requirements and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index', Agricultural Water Management, 275, article 108037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.108037
Resende, R.S., Fernandes, M.F. and Silva, S.M. (2025) 'Sugarcane yield, ratooning, and water response in cropping environments with contrasting water supply gradient', Agronomy Journal, 117(5), e70153. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70153
Rokhani, R., Rondhi, M., Kuntadi, E.B., Aji, J.M.M., Suwandari, A., Supriono, A. and Hapsari, T.D. (2020) 'Assessing determinants of farmer’s participation in sugarcane contract farming in Indonesia', AGRARIS: Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development Research, 6(1), pp. 12–23. https://doi.org/10.18196/agr.6187
Rosidah, A., Irham, Masyhuri and Perwitasari, H. (2023) 'Sugarcane production efficiency: A case study on PTPN X partner farmers', Jurnal Manajemen dan Agribisnis, 20(1), p. 56. https://doi.org/10.17358/jma.20.1.56
Shendryk, Y., Davy, R. and Thorburn, P. (2021) 'Integrating satellite imagery and environmental data to predict field-level cane and sugar yields in Australia using machine learning', Field Crops Research, 260, article 107984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2020.107984
Shukla, S.K. et al. (2021) 'Subsoiling affecting soil quality parameters and sugarcane yield in multiratooning system in subtropical India', Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 52(18), pp. 2125-2144. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2021.1919699
Shukla, S.K. et al. (2022) 'Trash management and Trichoderma harzianum influencing photosynthesis, soil carbon sequestration, and growth and yield of sugarcane ratoon in subtropical India', European Journal of Agronomy, 141, article 126631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2022.126631
Som-ard, J., Immitzer, M., Vuolo, F. and Atzberger, C. (2024) 'Sugarcane yield estimation in Thailand at multiple scales using the integration of UAV and Sentinel-2 imagery', Precision Agriculture, 25, pp. 1581-1608. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-024-10124-1
Tenelli, S., Otto, R., Bordonal, R.O. and Carvalho, J.L.N. (2021) 'How do nitrogen fertilization and cover crop influence soil C-N stocks and subsequent yields of sugarcane?', Soil and Tillage Research, 211, article 104999. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.104999
Wakchaure, G.C. et al. (2025) 'Assessment of gains in productivity and water-energy-carbon nexus with tillage, trash retention and fertigation practices in drip irrigated sugarcane', Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 211, article 115294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.115294
Wang, H. et al. (2026) 'Innovative integrated management achieves high productivity and profitability of sugarcane in China with low environmental costs', European Journal of Agronomy, 175, article 127985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2026.127985
Xu, J.-X. et al. (2020) 'Estimation of sugarcane yield using a machine learning approach based on UAV-LiDAR data', Remote Sensing, 12(17), article 2823. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12172823
Yang, L. et al. (2024) 'High sugarcane yield and large reduction in reactive nitrogen loss can be achieved by lowering nitrogen input', Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 369, article 109032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2024.109032
Yang, L. et al. (2025) 'Environmental trade-offs and productivity gains through sustainable nitrogen use in an intensive high-input sugarcane production system in China', Industrial Crops and Products, 232, article 121288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.121288
Yuan, X. et al. (2025) 'Global synthesis of nitrogen management in sugarcane systems: Decoding climate-soil-management drivers of Brazil-China contrasts', Field Crops Research, 333, article 110075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110075
Zhou, B., Ma, S., Li, W., Peng, C. and Li, W. (2024) 'Study on sugarcane chopping and damage mechanism during harvesting of sugarcane chopper harvester', Biosystems Engineering, 243, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2024.04.019
Zhu, R. et al. (2026) 'Balancing productivity and sustainability: Identifying optimal nitrogen application rates for Chinese regional sugarcane systems', European Journal of Agronomy, 175, article 128022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2026.128022
