04 March 2022April 1, 2022
Sorghum Research Group
Background of the research
This new TDCOP (Transdisciplinary Community of Practice) group named “Sorgum Sumber Rejeki (SSR)” which means “Sorghum is a Fortune Source” was founded in late January to harvest Sorghum in Molosipat Village, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia.
Sorghum is a flowering plant of the grass family (Poaceae) that is either cultivated or naturalized in pasture lands in Africa, Asia, and Australia, with certain species even growing on the islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It was used to make cereals for human consumption and pasture for animals.
Outbreaks and defective immune systems were common as a result of local goat breeders’ insufficient livestock management techniques, particularly in breeding and feeding. Likewise, goats should be immunized against parasites since they are more widespread in them. The high expense of vaccinations is another issue for goat breeders.
Purpose of the Research Group
The purpose of this research is to collaborate with local goat breeders and farmers to create sustainable methods of cultivating Sorghum for the reduction of poverty problems and the development of the local community. This TDCOP has been gradually developed by local stakeholders and researchers to solve the challenges mentioned above and improve the social life of local goat breeders and farmers.
This group is composed of stakeholders including local farmers and goat breeders of designated areas, a government officer from the Agricultural Technology Research Center (Badan Pengkajian Teknologi Pertanian (BPTP)), students and researchers from Gorontalo State University (UNG), and researchers from SRIREP Project (RIHN) and Ehime University.
Towards a Mercury-Free Society
The goal of the SRIREP Project of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature is to identify a way to reduce mercury pollution in ASGM related areas (the larger population is living in poverty in that region) by developing various TDCOPs that are keen to shift towards a new kind of sustainable regional innovations. Our project members will continue to work together with the local stakeholders to put this solution into practice.
Progress
- Local farmers from two villages namely Molosipat Village (1000m2) and Sipatana Village (4000m2), Gorontalo Province joined the Sorghum plantation in January 2022.
- They had a plan to plant sorghum again on 6000m2.
- As of February 27, 2022, the farmers from Molosipat Village had harvested the Sorghum plant (on 1000 m2 of land).
- In the meantime, groups of farmers from Tamboo Village and Tabango Village showed their interest in the Sorghum plantation.
