Sorghum development for staple food and industrial raw materials in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia: A review

Abstract

East Nusa Tenggara/NTT has been known as one of the poorest provinces in Indonesia which has a dry climate with very low rainfall. Poor food security is partly due to community dependence on rice as a staple food while rice cannot grow well in NTT. These also has an impact on the poor nutritional status of the community, such as the high prevalence of stunting. Sorghum previously was cultivated as a local food however, it had long been abandoned. Fortunately, nowadays sorghum began to consume again by the community. This paper presents the potential and challenges faced in developing sorghum as a staple food and raw material for industry in NTT, especially in East Flores. The data and information was collected from the survey, secondary sources as well as journal and personal communication with sorghum stakeholders. After a long time being forgotten, sorghum has grown back about a decade ago. Various local varieties of sorghum are in NTT and have been identified. The main focus of the development of sorghum is that the community re-consumes sorghum, only a small portion is sold. Likotuden is a complete center for developing sorghum from the supply of seeds, cultivation to processing and marketing of sorghum seeds. The factor of rapid development of sorghum is supported by various parties, including NGOs, local government, central government and universities. The extent of marginal land in NTT, the availability of sorghum superior seeds, the suitability of agro ecology and socio-economic and cultural sorghum with various functional advantages will foster the development of sorghum. Besides, the support of local government programs such as the pajaleso program (corn rice, soybean plus sorghum) sorghum will be foster the development sorghum in NTT. However, some obstacles are still found, among others, the need for agriculture machineries, both pre-harvest for land preparation and planting and post-harvest. In addition, socialization and training also need to be encouraged, especially in areas where other food crops are difficult to grow.