I think it is important to develop collaboration in the food sector to improve the quality of (Indonesian) human resources.
Kendal, C Java (ANTARA) - The Central Java provincial government held the Egg Consumption Mass Movement at Kebumen Village, Kendal District, Central Java Province, on Sunday, as one of the stunting mitigation attempts in the region.

The event was conducted in collaboration with the National Food Agency (BPN), National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), State Logistics Agency (Bulog), Kendal District Government, as well as Kendal Prosperous Poultry Farmer Cooperative.

It was continued with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) of cooperation between BPN and BKKBN on Synergy for Realizing Food and Nutrition Security through Family, Population, and Family Planning Development.

Moreover, one thousand food aid packages were symbolically handed over to families with stunted children.

Deputy Governor of Central Java Taj Yasin Maimoen said that to reduce the stunting rate, the participation of all parties, including teenagers and students, was deemed necessary to handle the problem from upstream to downstream sectors.

"Earlier, we had also visited schools and colleges. For those (students), who suffered from anemia, we asked them to take iron supplements," he stated.

Meanwhile, Head of BPN Arief Prasetyo Adi noted that consuming eggs could help to prevent stunting since the food had various types of nutrition required by pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers.

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"The activity shows a joint commitment from the central government, regional governments, food SOEs (state-owned enterprises), breeders' associations, and the private sector to promote the importance of consuming eggs to the community and support efforts to accelerate stunting reduction," he remarked.

Currently, his side is focusing on developing an integrated food ecosystem from upstream to downstream sectors to alleviate food insecurity in various regions, eradicate stunting, as well as diversify food commodities.

"One of the animal protein sources that is easy to get and is relatively inexpensive is eggs. The nutritional content of eggs is complete, both in terms of macronutrients and micronutrients. However, our egg consumption per capita only reached 7.5 kilograms per year," he stated.

The BPN head noted that as compared to other countries, Indonesia's egg consumption per capita ranks 15th in the world.

"Hence, egg consumption needs to be increased, one of which is through this movement," he emphasized.


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Head of BKKBN Hasto Wardoyo assessed that the Egg Consumption Mass Movement was an important momentum in accelerating stunting rate reduction, especially since Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin had also recommended that children aged six months to two years should eat one egg per day to prevent stunting.

"We are striving together to increase egg consumption as a source of protein to prevent stunting. I think it is important to develop collaboration in the food sector to improve the quality of (Indonesian) human resources," he added.

According to the Indonesian Nutrition Status Study (SSGI) conducted by the Health Ministry, the prevalence rate of stunting in Indonesia in 2021 was 24.4 percent, higher than the standard set by the WHO, which was 20 percent. Thus, Indonesia is included as a country with high stunting problems.

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Translator: Wisnu Nugroho, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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