Anticipating The Food Crisis In Indonesia, Moeldoko Calls Sorghum An Alternative

Chief of Presidential Staff, Moeldoko. (Photo: Doc. KSP)

JAKARTA - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said the government was developing sorghum as an alternative to overcome the food crisis in Indonesia.

Moeldoko revealed, Indonesian researchers began to develop superior varieties of sorghum, which are more durable and have higher productivity.

“The food challenge is not only experienced by Indonesia but by all countries. For that I encourage collaboration of food researchers from various countries. One of the plants that has great potential but has not been widely developed is Sorghum.” said Moeldoko

Moeldoko said that sorghum is a very useful plant, it can even be said to be a superior plant.

Because, he said, sorghum has many advantages both in terms of nutrition and health.

"It is very good for people who want to consume foods that are high in protein while avoiding diabetes and gluten," he explained.

On the same occasion, Indonesian food researcher Soeronto Human acknowledged that sorghum is superior to land suitability in Indonesia.

Unfortunately, he added, until now the people of Indonesia are still used to eating rice and wheat.

"In terms of research, there is still much that Indonesian researchers can learn from other countries," said Soeronto, who is also the principal researcher of BRIN.

For information, previously food researchers from 12 countries participated in joint training and research related to the sorghum plant, in Jonggol, West Java, Wednesday, July 27.

In the training, food researchers share knowledge and experience in the development and processing of sorghum plants into sources of food, biomass, bioenergy, and sugar or sweeteners.