Good News From Moeldoko: Sumba Has Great Potential To Become "Sorghum Island"

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko with the Director of Cereals of the Ministry of Agriculture Ismail Wahab (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Presidential Chief of Staff (KSP) Moeldoko said Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), could become "Sorghum Island" because it has great potential as a development area for the cultivation of this versatile food crop. "Sumba has great potential for the development of sorghum cultivation. I am sure that Sumba will become 'Sorghum Island'," he said after inspecting the sorghum cultivation area in Laipori Village, East Sumba Regency, NTT, Friday, as quoted from a KSP press release reported by Antara, Friday, January 7th. something new for the people of the island of Sumba. Moreover, sorghum is very suitable to be planted and cultivated on dry lands such as on Sumba Island. to plant sorghum, which can later become a national food reserve," said Moeldoko.

Moeldoko, who is also the Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers' Association (HKTI), assessed that the sorghum plant has many benefits, namely as food, animal feed, and an energy source. Sorghum contains a high source of carbohydrates, namely starch, soluble sugar and fiber. "Sorghum also produces ethanol which is useful for fuel mixtures," he said. in the country. In 2022, said Ismail, the sorghum development program will cover an area of 15 thousand hectares. "In the near future we will plant sorghum on an area of 4 thousand hectares in Mamuru District, Central Sumba. This will be the starting point for the successful development of sorghum on the island of Sumba. , said Ismail.