Prospect of sorghum development as corn substitution in Indonesia

Abstract

This paper explores the opportunities for the development of sorghum to reduce imports of corn. Besides being the primary raw material for poultry feed, corn is the second staple-food ingredient after rice. Still, the increase in corn production is not in line with the demand for corn due to the increasing population. This condition has resulted in the need for corn to be imported, while the government has imposed an import ban since 2017. It is necessary to have other commodities that can substitute corn as food as sorghum. Sorghum farming produces not only sorghum seeds but also plant waste which can use for a ruminant feed so that the availability of ruminant feed continues. Sorghum farming needs to be developed so that the availability of food and feed can sustain. The development of sorghum should be in areas where there is a feed industry to ensure the sorghum market for farmers and the availability of raw materials. The development can also be in areas that have long consumed sorghum (local food).