The Professor of Hanjeli

Tati’s knowledge of hanjeli was not gained overnight. She has been digging into food, especially wheat, since her study at the Faculty of Agriculture of Unpad in 1969.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Tati Nurmala

Tati Nurmala, 72, has researched hanjeli or adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi) for decades. The professor of the Faculty of Agriculture, Padjadjaran University (Unpad), has been exploring remote villages to find hanjeli and guide farmers. All this is done for the sake of safeguarding local food amid the current threat of a food crisis.