West Java deputy governor: Cirebon to be a model area for sorghum development

Cirebon (ANTARA) — West Java Deputy Governor Erwan Setiawan says Cirebon Regency will be a demonstrational area in the development of sorghum to support diversification and strengthen food security in West Java. During his visit to Cirebon on Thursday, he said the development of the commodity could serve as a model for other regions in West Java in expanding sorghum cultivation. He stated that sorghum has great potential as a cereal rich in nutrients, such as protein, fibre, antioxidants, and gluten-free, making it an alternative food to replace rice and wheat. ‘Sorghum is a multifunctional crop. Its grains can be food, its stalks can be used for biomass or bioethanol, while the leaves can be used as cattle feed,’ he said. From the land, Erwan said, it is estimated to yield around 1.5 tonnes of seed with basic seed class that can be developed for certified seed production up to covering land about 150 hectares. ‘That land can potentially produce sorghum stalks around 10 to 15 tonnes that can be used as cattle feed, raw materials for the food and sugar industry, as well as bioethanol or biomass energy,’ he said. Erwan stated that the development of sorghum in Cirebon was made possible thanks to support from various parties, including the corporate social responsibility programme (CSR) of PT Dirgantara Indonesia.