REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- State-owned Enterprises Minister Rini M Soemarno has asked regional government heads to give sanctions to traders who sell refined sugar to the consumer market as it would harm the interest of sugar cane farmers.

"Firm actions must be taken against them to prevent the circulation of refined sugar in open market," the minister said in a working visit to Rendeng Sugar factory in Kudus, Central Java, on Saturday.

The minister said she had coordinated with the ministry of trade in dealing with refined sugar which was only for food and beverage industries.

Regional government heads who find refined sugar in the market can directly take actions against the dealers. Taking these actions will benefit sugar cane farmers as it could prevent the fall of farmers' can sugar prices.

Several farmers who held a dialog with the minister also hoped that the government would take stern measures against traders who leaked their sugar into the consumer market. This kind of sugar could not be distributed to open market because they are only designed for food and beverage industries.

"One can just import refined sugar if it is based on the local need but it should not flood the market," a farmer, Riyanto, said.

Kuslan, another sugar cane farmer from Kudus in Central Java said refined sugar always appeared in the market when farmers harvested their products.

Therefore, he said, imported refined sugar should be supervised tightly so that it would not enter the consumer market.

Minister Rini said sanctions must be taken against dealers if there were evidence.

"If violations could be proven there should be sanctions," the minister said.

So far, no response or sanctions have been taken by the government with regard to the presence of refined sugar in the market.

Deputy Secretary General of the National Executive Council of the Indonesian Sugarcane Farmers Association (DPN APTRI), M Nur Khabsyin, admitted that they found refined sugar in circulation such in Banyumas and Cilacap.

Refined sugar should have been distributed to food and drink industries only. It is now allowed to be sold the public.

Kudus District Head Musthofa said his side was ready to follow up the minister's call to a stern measure if he found refined sugar being sold to open market. "If we found refined sugar being circulated in Kudus, we will take a firm action," the District chief said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika