For The Sake Of National Food Stability, Moeldoko Asks To Accelerate The Sorghum Ecosystem

Presidential Chief of Staff Dr. Moeldoko conveyed the keynote speech in a webinar held by the Indonesian Agronomi Association (PERAGI), from the Bina Graha Building, Jakarta, Tuesday, September 14. (KSP Photo)

JAKARTA - Presidential Chief of Staff Dr. Moeldoko again called for the importance of accelerating the development of the sorghum ecosystem in order to ensure national food stability. Increasing alternative food productivity is a precise strategy for Indonesia not only to rely solely on rice as its only food ingredient.

We all know the advantages of sorghum and sago which provide great economic potential for this country. But we need to talk and think about why these two commodities still cannot develop? said Moeldoko.

He conveyed this through a keynote speech for the opening of a webinar entitled "Sagu Development and Industrialization Strategy and Corporate-Based National Sorghum" initiated by the Indonesian Agronomi Association (PERAGI) online from the Bina Graha Building, Jakarta, Tuesday, September 14.

So we have to start building an alternative food ecosystem, especially sorghum. I also hope that all kinds of discussions held by experts will produce something concrete. Don't just compete with concepts, but poor applications," he added.

Moeldoko also said that the lack of the number of off-takers (companies that connect farmers' commodities to the market) is an obstacle to the development of the sorghum ecosystem. Therefore, capital owners need to be convinced to contribute to developing the national food alternative industry.

Minimally off-takers have caused the sorghum industry not to develop. So so sorghum cultivation does not grow massively. Research in the sorghum seed sector is also not running fast. Why? Because sorghum is not yet an option, said Moeldoko.

In fact, compared to other food commodities, sorghum is a multifunctional plant because all parts of the plant can be used as food, animal feed and bioethanol.

Sorghum seeds are not much different from rice or flour, sorghum nira is a source of bioethenol, and stems and leaves can be used as animal feed.

The Presidential Chief of Staff also hopes that the sorghum ecosystem can be used immediately for animal feed because Indonesia is still in a condition of sufficient rice. "But when we face a crisis, we can easily shift the sorghum for human food alternatives because the ecosystem has been built," concluded Moeldoko, who is also Purnawirawan TNI Commander.