Minister Of Industry Agus Proposes Sago Rice To Be Used For Free Nutrition

Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. (Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita plans to propose to the elected president Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka that sago analog rice is used for a free nutritious food program. This is to support food security and reduce dependence on rice.

Agus said sago could be an alternative source of carbohydrates to replace rice. He hopes that the sago industry can be developed so that Indonesia becomes one of the largest suppliers of sago bags in the world.

"We will definitely propose it because he can also support food security by using sago as the main source or ingredient for food outside of rice. So, what we have to encourage is local wisdom," he told reporters at his office, Monday, July 29.

In addition to supporting food security, Agus said, sago commodities can support energy security. Sago plants are considered very environmentally friendly because they have a very high rate of carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption and can be converted into bioethenol.

"Now it is being prepared by the Directorate General of Agro Industry. So, sago can not only support food security, but can also support energy security. So, sago can become bioethanol," he said.

According to him, per 2.5 hectares (ha) of sago land can produce 250 kiloliters of bioethenol. "So, if we can use 6.6 million ha of national sago land for food and energy purposes, I think it makes sense and the prototype is to produce the bioethenol already exists," he said.

He added that the economic value of sago commodities is extraordinary. The reason is, Indonesia has 85 percent or 5.5 million ha of sago land from 6.5 million ha sago land in the world. Even so, Agus said, the potential for utilization is still very low.

"Approximately from 4 percent of the national sago area area that has just been utilized," said Agus.