Budi Waseso: Being A Promising Food Alternative, Bulog Makes Noodles Made From Sago

President Director. BULOG Public Corporation, Budi Waseso. (Photo: Perum BULOG)

JAKARTA - Perum BULOG launched its new product in the form of sago-based noodles, named Sago Mee Bulog at Nusantara Sago Week. This product is an effort to diversify food by encouraging the use of sago as a source of food.

President Director of Perum BULOG, Budi Waseso, explained that this product was present because of the fact that Indonesia has a very large potential for sago, around 85 percent of the world's sago area, which is spread across Sumatra, Maluku, Sulawesi, Papua including West Papua and with a very high level of productivity.

Furthermore, Budi said, Perum BULOG would be a promoter and facilitator of sago products and products to support the food diversification program in order to achieve food security.

"We believe that sago can be a promising food alternative and can be the key to food security in the future. There are many advantages of sago food and its derivative products that can be an strengthening factor so that sago food can be of interest to the Indonesian people," he said, during the 'Nusantara Sago Week' event. 2020 ', Tuesday, October 20.

In supporting the sago industry in Indonesia, said Budi, Perum BULOG plans to develop sago and cassava processing plants in 20 points with 9 priority points. Concepts such as a smart village are also planned to be developed by involving various parties such as the government, private sector, universities and micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM).

"The strength in the downstream network controlled by BULOG through the Assignment Sales Network (PSO) and the Commercial Network will make it easier for us to spread Sago Noodle (Sago Mee) products throughout Indonesia, we will market it through the online sales method via ipanganandotcom and through the Rumah Pangan Kita network. , "he explained.

Meanwhile, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said that Indonesia's rich potential in sago production should be utilized as a government effort to succeed in the food diversification program. So far, Indonesia is still very dependent on rice and can trigger problems in national food security

"The production of Indonesian sago land is the largest in the world and is very abundant in the land of Papua, so we need an idea to create food alternatives outside of rice. So we, through cooperation with various parties, have started the development of sago," said Agus.

In the framework of the commitment to strengthen sago food at the National Sago Week event, an MOU was also signed between BULOG and the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) regarding the commitment to develop and apply technology for local food management.

In addition, an MOU was also signed between BULOG and PT Bangka Asindo Agri regarding the development of independent food based on cassava and sago. The MOU was signed by the President Director of Perum BULOG, Head of BPPT, Deputy President Director of Perum BULOG and President Director of PT Bangka Asiando Agri which was witnessed directly by the Minister of Industry.

Previously, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Momon Rusmono, said that sago is a source of carbohydrates that can be juxtaposed with rice and corn. According to him, sago has great potential but is still underdeveloped.

Momon said the area of land that could potentially be planted with sago is around 5.5 million hectares. However, of this total only 314,000 hectares of land were used or only about 5 percent.

"Even that, with the profitability that is not too high, only 3.57 tons per hectare. Actually, this could be increased by more than 10 tons, but it is still under research," he said.

Of the planted area of 314,000 hectares, 96 percent or 302,000 hectares are smallholder plantations. The remaining 4 percent is private sector.

On the other hand, said Momon, from the existing land, only 41.44 percent of plants produced yields, while the majority or 54.82 percent were immature plants.

To deal with this problem, Momon said, several policies of the Ministry of Agriculture encourage the expansion of the sago plantation area so that it can be as optimal as possible, even reaching 5.5 million hectares.

"Then by increasing productivity, namely how to provide superior seeds, good agriculture practices, with correct fertilization so that profitability can increase," he said.

In addition, said Momon, the Ministry of Agriculture will provide standards, guidelines, and criteria in order to increase productivity. As well as improving quality through facilitation of sago processing facilities and infrastructure.

However, he said, technical guidance was needed. But what is currently more important is the diversification of food from sago. Not only for papeda, but also for other products.