Ntb’s Potential as a Sorghum Producer for Alternative Food and Export Commodities

Abstract

The area of sorghum planted in NTB Province is currently around 650 ha, with details of Bima Regency covering 250 ha, Bima City covering 250 ha, Sumbawa Regency covering 150 ha and West Sumbawa Regency 10 Ha (Kementan RI, 2021). Participation of farmers in sorghum farming, farmers tend to cultivate without tillage and intensive care. The level of technology adoption tends to be low, and Government support for sorghum cultivation is also standard. The Regional Government focuses on rice and corn cultivation through the Central Government program. In the end, low public perception of sorghum cultivation was formed. The cultivation of Sorghum in NTB aims to improve farmers' welfare by cultivating alternative food crops with high economic value, becoming one of the alternative food crops and also a leading export commodity. The method used in this study is through a literature study of several scientific articles, national and international journals and other sources, which were analyzed descriptively. Based on the results of this literature review, the development of Sorghum in NTB with a relatively wide dry land condition can potentially make NTB one of the producers of sorghum with export quality. This condition is supported by the Astra Prosperous Village Program, which has exported several processed sorghum products to various countries. Several countries, such as Timor Leste and Malaysia with a total export value of hundreds of millions of rupiah. The limited use of land for sorghum development is an obstacle and a challenge for sorghum productivity in NTB.