Bandarlampung, July 25, 2026 – The Europe Today: Indonesia has officially launched the National Cassava Center in Lampung Province, marking a major step toward developing an integrated ecosystem for the country’s cassava industry by combining scientific research, technological innovation, investment and industrial development.
Speaking at the launch ceremony on Saturday, Lampung Governor Rahmat Mirzani Djausal said the center is expected to strengthen research, enhance productivity, accelerate downstream processing and improve the livelihoods of cassava farmers across the country.
“Lampung Province has the strong foundation needed to lead Indonesia’s cassava development. Around 70 percent of the nation’s cassava production comes from Lampung and supports the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of farming families,” Djausal said.
He noted that the establishment of the National Cassava Center addresses the long-standing absence of an integrated institution capable of connecting farmers, researchers and industry stakeholders, enabling Indonesia to enhance its competitiveness with leading cassava-producing countries such as Thailand and Vietnam.
Djausal recalled that nearly 500,000 cassava farmers in Lampung had faced severe price volatility for years, with prices at one point falling to around Rp600 (US$0.03) per kilogram, prompting repeated protests by farmers.
According to the governor, the provincial government facilitated dialogue among farmers, industry representatives and the central government, leading to the introduction of a policy restricting cassava imports.
“As a result, cassava is now sold for around Rp2,200 per kilogram, demonstrating that effective collaboration between farmers, industry and government can deliver tangible benefits for the people,” he said.
Looking ahead, Djausal emphasized that Indonesia’s next priority is to improve productivity and strengthen the competitiveness of its cassava industry to secure a larger role in global supply chains.
The National Cassava Center, established at the University of Lampung, will focus on developing superior cassava varieties, promoting mechanized farming, advancing cultivation technologies and supporting the processing of cassava into higher-value industrial products.
“We must become the world’s number one. Lampung has the farmers, the land and the industries. Now we are strengthening research. This is the time to increase productivity,” Djausal said.
He also highlighted the strategic role of cassava in supporting Indonesia’s emerging bioeconomy, describing the commodity as a key foundation for expanding bio-based industries while ensuring sustainable improvements in farmers’ incomes and living standards.
