President Jokowi delivered the statement after planting seeds and harvesting sorghum in East Sumba District, ENT, on Thursday.
"I have given directives to the governors and heads of districts to really determine how much land can be used to plant sorghum, so that we do not depend on imported wheat and corn,” the president said as quoted from a press statement via a video uploaded on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube account on Thursday.
The head of state explained that corn was planted in the area in Sumba District, though it was not very productive, due to which it was utilized for sorghum grain crops instead.
Currently, East Sumba District had 60 hectares of sorghum cultivation area, with productivity capped at five tons per hectare.
Although it was still considered as a pilot project, farmers could generate income of around Rp50 million per hectare in a year, or more than Rp4 million per month.
Related news: Jokowi inspects sorghum harvest as alternative to tackle food crisis
President Jokowi had instructed ENT Governor Viktor Laiskodat and Head of East Sumba District Khristofel Praing to expand the land that will be suitable for sorghum plantation.
"We will expand this sorghum (plantation) in East Nusa Tenggara Province, with the expectation that we will have an alternative (food source) in order to (surmount) the world food crisis. If we have excess stock, then this is exactly what we will export," the head of state stated.
Sorghum was considered as an alternative food source apart from rice and corn as a way to face the food crisis.
The Food and Agriculture Organization has warned every country since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out to employ a plan to ensure smooth food supply chains to anticipate potential food crises.
Related news: Sumba has potential to become Sorghum Island: KSP Chief
Translator: Mentari Dwi G, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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