With this cooperation agreement, we will take real action with stakeholders to increase the production and downstreaming of sorghum crops.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) is strengthening synergies for the development of sorghum agribusinesses that are integrated from upstream to downstream as part of efforts to maintain food stability amid the El Niño threat.

Efforts to build the sorghum ecosystem have been carried out through the signing of a tripartite cooperation agreement between Bapanas and PT Sang Hyang Seri (SHS), a member of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) food holding ID FOOD, and PT Sorghum Agrosolusi Indonesia to develop sorghum agribusiness technology through demonstration plots in order to increase food availability.

"I hope that the commitment to synergize the development of sorghum agribusiness technology through this agreement can increase the availability of carbohydrate food sources as well as animal feed sources and other uses," Bapanas Head Arief Prasetyo Adi said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He informed that Bapanas, together with other stakeholders, has continued to popularize sorghum as food and feed.

For now, the agency is pursuing efforts to help people accept and get used to consuming sorghum.

"If sorghum is able to become a food source that is consistently consumed, then the level of production volume and supply must be maintained," Adi underlined.

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Moreover, he said that given its great potential, the development of sorghum as a food source will continue to be optimized through innovation and technology.

"With this cooperation agreement, we will take real action with stakeholders to increase the production and downstreaming of sorghum crops and develop wheat substitute crops to maintain national food security. This is in line with President Joko Widodo's directives regarding food and feed substitution and product diversification as well," he added.

Meanwhile, the president director of PT Sorghum Agrosolusi Indonesia, M. Hendry, expressed the hope that the cooperation can be maintained to meet the demand for feed, which will have an impact on food stability.

"Synergies of programs and activities, resources, infrastructure, and facilities are expected to realize the development of sorghum agribusiness technology through this demonstration plot in order to increase food availability," he added.

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Translator: Kuntum Khaira R, Resinta S
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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