In the midst of limited imported products, this is our opportunity to produce domestic food substitutions, as was done in Papua and Maluku, with sago-based food
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Food Agency (NFA) has taken several steps to mitigate the potential for food crisis in Indonesia, starting from synergizing national food data to encouraging consumption diversity.

"We have compiled and integrated food data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade, and Coordinating Ministry for Economy Affairs. Everything is contained in the National Food Balance, which we report every week to the president," Head of NFA Arief Prasetyo Adi noted in his statement received here, Friday.

Adi emphasized that the next step was to encourage consumption diversity in the community. The public is urged to not rely on one basic commodity for meeting their consumption needs.

Adi remarked that Indonesia has high biodiversity, with each region having its own unique food commodities.

"We will continue our campaign regarding the diversification of consumption through the Movement for Diverse Consumption and Balanced and Safe Foods, or B2SA," he stated.

Hence, he invited the community to view the food crisis as an opportunity to increase local food production.

"In the midst of limited imported products, this is our opportunity to produce domestic food substitutions, as was done in Papua and Maluku, with sago-based food," Adi stated.

On the other hand, he also reminded of the importance of improving the supply chain and food ecosystem. He urged related parties to participate in the endeavor to achieve sustainable food security.

“In these food activities, I simply divide them into farm, off farm, logistics, warehousing, and distribution. Each process must have its own person in charge. Key performance indicator (KPI) is needed for each process, and then we can monitor it together to ensure all parties involved carry out their duties according to the criteria been set,” Adi explained.

Moreover, all these anticipatory steps must be coalesced together in a good synergistic relationship, he stated.

"Pentahelix cooperation, in an effort to maintain national food security, must continue to be strengthened. Food security can only be achieved if academia, business owners, community, government, and media work hand in hand to collaborate," he concluded.

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Translator: Aditya Ramadhan, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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