Sorghum is a potential food source of the future currently being developed as an Indonesian sustainable food source through agribusiness. Its potential, considering the adaptability of the food source with low water requirements, could support the future food security of the country.
Sorghum has been a tropical native plant in Ethiopia and East Africa. It came to Indonesia through the Dutch occupation in 1925 and its development came to fruition in the 1940s.
With Russia’s invasion to Ukraine starting on February 24, 2022, there have been questions about food security in Europe and the world. Ukraine is one of the biggest wheat producers in the world. Before the war, Ukraine produces 5 million metric tons of grain each month, and around 90% was exported through Ukraine’s ports such as Odessa. Its crops came from the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which is currently controlled by Russia.
The Ukrainian Statistics Service estimated a 54% decrease in wheat production levels in 2021. While around 40% of the Worlds Food Program’s wheat supplies came from Ukraine. Meanwhile, around 77 million tons of grains are stranded in Ukraine, 22 million tons of which are Ukraine’s grain stock while 55 million tons are its harvest results waiting for export and another 130 million tons of grains are stranded in Russia, said Indonesian President Joko Widodo during his visit to Ukraine in June 2022.
On the other hand, Indonesia, which also imports 11 million tons of grain each year, cannot find a replacement. The government is seeking an alternative for wheat since wheat prices have risen between 30% and 50% on a yearly basis. Widodo is prioritizing East Nusa Tenggara and invites many businessmen to contribute to planting sorghum in the midst of the uncertainty of the food crisis.
Is sorghum a future food source?
Indonesia is currently increasing the sorghum plant to replace wheat to maintain national food security of the country. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto told the press on August 4, 2022 that until early June 2022 there are 4,355 hectares (ha) of sorghum plantations in six provinces with an estimated production of 15,243 tons or 3.63 tons/ha.
“President Joko Widodo asked for a roadmap to be made until 2024. The President also asked Waingapu regency in East Nusa Tenggara to be prioritized [for sorghum plantation],” he said.
The government must act fast to find an alternative to grain due to the increasing price and it affects the food industry. For instance, the price of instant noodle has a raise by IDR500. The figure may seem small but if it was not managed quickly it could affect the low income people.
According to an Economist from the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef), Nailul Huda, the government should be aware of the wheat price surge because it could lead to high inflation.
In May 2022, there was an import ban on wheat from India which potentially increased the prices of biscuits, bread and noodles.
Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (GAPMMI) Chairman Adhi S. Lukman told CNN Indonesia on May 19, 2022 that association members might have to increase prices.
“With the significant increase [of wheat prices] from India’s [export] ban, inevitably, our members who produce wheat flour, will have to increase prices by about 5% to 10%. Of course, this will have an impact on other food products because biscuits, bread and noodles use wheat. There will be an increase in prices as well,” he said.
Apart from this, Lukman added, there would also be an increase in logistics and energy burden due to price hike.
On the other hand, sorghum’s efficiency as the next food source could contribute to the conversion from wheat to sorghum. In 2014, East Java provincial administration and the Cereal Crop Research Institute (Balitsereal) and Agricultural Research and Development Center (Puslitbangtan) sees potential in the development of sorghum and its uses for bioethanol.
Are consumers okay with it?
Widodo seeks to develop sorghum for consumers despite the lack of cheap price and expensive flour manufacturing with sorghum. The president will continue developing sorghum, including its derivative products, at an expensive price compared to wheat flour.
The price of sorghum reached IDR13,000 per kilogram. To produce flour, it takes four times compared to wheat. Its production expense reached IDR52,000. Meanwhile, its selling price could reach IDR60,000-IDR70,000/kg. On the other hand, the prices of some products are lower. Cassave flour’s price is only IDR9,000/kg, sago IDR9,000/kg and wheat flour is around IDR12,000/kg. Hartarto said that sorghum flour product is premium in the market.
As prices soar, food and beverage producer PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk has not used sorghum due to its price and the people’s taste. But Indofood had an MoU with state-owned plantation firm PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) XII to supply the company with sorghum as a trial. Yet, the procurement never happened and the prices do not live up to Indofood’s expectations.
Indofood CEO Fransiscus Welirang said when the MoU was signed, the price of sorghum was IDR1,600kg. Then the PTPN said they miscalculated and changed the price to IDR3,000/kg. “The price of wheat is still cheaper. We want to get a good price so the product is affordable for the people,” he said.
Even though the price of sorghum is not up to his expectation, Welirang acknowledged sorghum’s potential as the next wheat. However, there are a lot of challenges especially with Indonesian people’s fondness for soft buns.
Challenges for sorghum in Indonesia
Firstly, sorghum is quite expensive compared to wheat. According to pertanian.go.id, sorghum’s price ranges from IDR2,500 to IDR3,000/kg. In 2021, the wheat’s price reached IDR23,000/kg while in 2022, it reached IDR29,000/kg.
Secondly, Indonesians are more familiar with soft bread produced from wheat than hard bread produced from sorghum.
Thirdly, the production rate of sorghum is still questioned as they cannot produce accordingly to supply the industry and consumers alike. Indofood already had an MoU with PTPN XII on supplingy the company with sorghum to replace wheat. However, the purchase failed to materialize because the PTPN had not provided details of the supply. While Indofood needs an endless supply of it.
