Sorghum: Cereal Plant Resilient to Climate Change Could Replace Rice in Indonesia

Due to its resistance to climate change, Indonesia is contemplating switching from rice to the cereal species sorghum as its staple food.

Mdm Loretha, Mama Sorghum

Maria Loretha, an Indonesian, was a law student in East Java. She is well-known in the East Nusa Tenggara, although not for her legal knowledge.

Mdm. Loretha, an activist of 54 years old, is referred to as "Mama Sorghum" because of her continuous commitment to spreading knowledge about the grain plant. She has relentlessly lectured on sorghum farming to several communities over the past ten years. S

he received her moniker in 2013 because she was the only national spokesperson who successfully spread sorghum around the country. After obtaining seeds from a neighbor in 2007, Mdm Loretha started canning the plant because of its intriguing flavor-slightly nutty and sweet.

She diligently explored East Flores for additional seeds despite initially not having enough for her three-hectare field. She learned that sorghum was grown by farmers in outlying locations with little infrastructure. Others were used to rice, thus it was difficult to get them to accept sorghum. But as time went on, people became aware of the health and financial benefits of growing and eating sorghum.

Sorghum Cultivation Today

In East Nusa Tenggara, there are about 1,000 farmers growing sorghum throughout eight regencies, the majority of whom are women. During his visit in June of last year, President Joko Widodo was pleased by the residents' farming practices and their support of sorghum as a main crop. This adjustment will lessen Indonesia's reliance on wheat and rice, both of which have been harmed by climate change and the crisis in Ukraine, as well as lower its reliance on wheat exports.

The necessity for alternative components like corn, sago, and sorghum was highlighted by President Widodo. He responded by ordering authorities to develop a plan for sorghum production, which might perhaps solve the nation's declining rice supplies and lessen the demand for imports.

Sorghum as Staple

There are several distinct varieties of the cereal plant known as sorghum, and each has a unique application. Grain sorghum is a kind of grass that is also used to make flour for human use. It is available in black, white, tan, orange, red, and bronze shades.

Sorghum with the colors red, orange, and bronze may be used for anything from fuel to animal feed. Sorghum flour is produced from tan, cream, and white grain for the food sector. According to Healthline, burgundy and black sorghum are particularly strong in antioxidants.

The director of BRIN, Laksana Tri Handoko, concurs that sorghum is more suited to the tropics than wheat. Because of its great nutritional content and ability to stave off diabetes, Professor Azrai is in favor of making sorghum a staple meal in Indonesia.

However, the greatest archipelagic country's 7.5 million acres of rice fields would still dwarf the new sorghum area, according to The Star, highlighting how crucial rice is to the Indonesian culture.

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Resilience to Climate Change

The presidential chief of staff, Moeldoko, forecasted a strong El Nino climatic pattern, resulting in drier circumstances, during President Widodo's visit to the sorghum field. He emphasized how resistant to weather sorghum is. It also needs less water than rice. Azrai said that replanting sorghum increases soil fertility, whereas Handoko said that processing sorghum doesn't require sophisticated equipment.

Economic Advantage

Azrai contends that raising sorghum production may strengthen Indonesia's economy and revitalize its rural areas. He sees bright futures for processed foods, sorghum-based bioenergy, and lessening reliance on rice. Sorghum, according to experts, offers a longer-lasting satisfaction than rice, preventing the depletion of rice stockpiles and lowering imports, CNA reports.