Success of Mutation Breeding of Sorghum to Support Food Security in Indonesia

Abstract

To support food security in the country, Indonesia has launched a national program of food diversification meaning that people should eat locally available food stuff resources other than rice. Indonesia has a great potency to produce food from the available crop diversity in order to support food security. In dryland agroecosystem, Indonesia needs to develop crops that require less agricultural inputs such as water and fertilizer and that have have good adaptability, nutrition, and economic values, and the choice fell on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). Attempts to increase sorghum genetic variation were done by mutation breeding, and by selecting desired mutant genotypes, some promising mutant lines have been developed. Significant adverse impacts of climate change have appeared in some agricultural regions in Indonesia, such as prolonged drought problem in the eastern regions. To face the worsening conditions brought about by climate change and variability, some sorghum mutant varieties having better adaptability, productivity, and quality have been released and developed further by stakeholders. Sorghum cultivation in Indonesia has given significantly positive impacts on mitigating climate change and supporting food diversification program for maintaining food security in the country. Sorghum has also promoted economic growth in the rural areas impacted by climate change.