What Did Jokowi And The TNI Chief Of Staff Talk About At Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport?

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Laily Rachev

JAKARTA - The third day in East Nusa Tenggara, Thursday 2 June 2022, President Joko Widodo and Iriana visited East Sumba Regency. Jokowi and his entourage arrived at Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport at around 09.20 WITA, after a 35-minute flight from Haji Hasan Aroeboesman Airport, Ende Regency.

The President and Iriana were welcomed by the Regent of East Sumba, Khristofel Praing and his wife, the Commander of the Military Command Lieutenant Colonel Czi Aditya Triwirawan, and the Head of the East Sumba Police AKBP Fadjar Widyadharma.

Before walking to the waiting room, the President and Mrs. Iriana watched the welcome dance and were wrapped in a woven cloth typical of East Sumba. From the airport, the President and Mrs. Iriana and their entourage continued their journey to the sorghum processing site.

At this airport, Jokowi also met with the Head of the TNI's Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), Lt. Gen. Joni Supriyanto. The two of them looked at the discussion at Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport, NTT.

From the photos that circulated the two of them seemed to be talking seriously. Then had time to stop for a while in the area inside the airport before stepping towards the exit of the airport.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) plans to expand the area of land for sorghum plantations in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province to reduce dependence on imports of wheat and corn as food sources.

This was conveyed by President Jokowi after planting seeds and harvesting sorghum in East Sumba Regency, NTT, Thursday, June 2.

"I have ordered the governors and regents to really determine how much land can be used to plant sorghum so that we do not depend on wheat, nor depend on imported corn," said President Jokowi.

The President explained that land in Sumba Regency had been planted with corn, but it was less productive. Therefore the land was shifted to sorghum grain crops.

Currently, the area of sorghum in East Sumba Regency is 60 hectares with a productivity of 5 tons per hectare.

Although still classified as a pilot project, farmers can generate income of around IDR 50 million per hectare in one year or IDR 4 million more per month.