The corn and sorghum planting movement is part of a series of activities to mark the 77th anniversary of TNI AL.
Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) has planted corn and sorghum on four hectares of land in Tanah Laut district, South Kalimantan province, as part of efforts to support the national food security program.



"The corn and sorghum planting movement is part of a series of activities to mark the 77th anniversary of TNI AL," Commander of the Banjarmasin Naval Base Colonel Herbiyantoko M.Tr.Hanla said here, South Kalimantan, on Sunday.



TNI AL planted corn and sorghum in cooperation with residents of Transal village, Tambang Ulang sub-district, Tanah Laut district, who have received farming guidance from the naval base.


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The corn and sorghum crop would be ready for harvest in 70 to 100 days' time.



Herbiyantoko lauded the local wisdom of Tanah Laut residents who have succeeded in cultivating corn and making the area the main supplier of the commodity in South Kalimantan.



He said sorghum cultivation is being developed as part of efforts to encourage farmers to grow the crop even though its culinary use in Indonesia is still limited.


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"Besides rice and corn, sorghum also has the potential to be developed in South Kalimantan as a food buffer zone for the new capital city, Nusantara," he added.



The Agriculture Ministry is developing 15 thousand hectares of sorghum plantation, which is expected to replace wheat. The area under sorghum plantation is expected to increase from 40 thousand hectares to 50 thousand hectares in 2023.



Sorghum, which contains fiber, minerals, and carbohydrates, can be cultivated on dry land and is resistant to pests and diseases.


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Translator: Firman, Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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