As for Bogor itself, the sorghum cultivation is still ongoing and spreading slowly but surely. For that reason, Friska believed that promoting and training farmers to cultivate sorghum are important to raise the citizens’ awareness and interest in sorghum.
In addition, Friska also explained a number of advantages and unique characteristics of sorghum for farmers.
“Sorghum seeds can grow in any kind of farm field regardless of the seasons, be it during drought season or rainy season. Unlike rice which tends to suffer from crop failure, sorghum crops tend to be a lot more durable,” she explained.
Furthermore, sorghum is also healthy to consume regularly and potentially healthier than rice. Due to rich in fiber and having less starch content, sorghum becomes a healthier solution for carbs intake among diabetic people.
“After we process it, sorghum seeds can act like rice and we can cook them like we would cook rice. We already cooked tumpeng rice or liwet rice with sorghum before,” Friska continued.
Meanwhile, sorghum flour contains similar benefits due to its gluten-free property, making it a much healthier option than wheat flour.
Friska and her cooperative friends once promoted sorghum flour by baking cakes like sponge cake, brownies, and cookies as healthy treats.
The importance of sorghum cultivation
The K-GNBR cooperative have been promoting sorghum since the early 2020s to the regular people and farmers as part of a big strategy for national food security. Along the way, they realize the many challenges that they must face in the long run.
One of the challenges the farmers are facing when selling sorghum to the market is its rather expensive price. This is due to the limited production and region around Indonesia.
Due to that, Friska believed that the Mandiri Sahabat Desa initiative would be able to help popularize sorghum among the farmers, which would then increase the production of sorghum and make the price more competitive among other carbs such as rice.
Furthermore, Friska saw a deeper meaning within sorghum cultivation among farmers.
She explained, “It’s all related to climate change. Crop failure in Indonesia are causing the rise of rice and wheat imports, which definitely causes issues to the farmers. For that reason, we can use the abandoned and damaged field to cultivate sorghum.”
“By doing so, farmers can become more independent and empowered,” she continued.
In addition, with healthier nutrient values than rice or wheat flour, Friska hoped that this would be able to improve the society’s interest in consuming sorghum more regularly, which would then incentivize the farmers to plant more sorghum.
“Ergo, let us all consume sorghum!” Friska exclaimed.
*Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWXBA2Tsyt4
