"The government must be able to create food diversification so that people do not depend on only one food commodity," Agus Herta Sumarto said when contacted by ANTARA here.
Food diversification will also create stability in food commodity prices because people will no longer consume only one food item, he added. However, this step must get broad community support.
"The community must voluntarily participate in this process,” said the lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business at Mercu Buana University.
He further said he hopes that people will no longer consume only one food item because it will lead to dependence and reduce the quality of national food security.
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Efforts to change food behavior could be adapted to local wisdom, for example, people who used to eat sweet potatoes, sago, corn, and foodstuffs other than rice could be encouraged to return to consuming food typical of their respective regions, he suggested. Thus, food security will also be created at the regional level.
Meanwhile, in terms of consumption, the government must encourage changes in people's food consumption behavior patterns by playing an active role in creating food diversification, so that people do not rely on one food commodity, he said.
The government is also expected to change the behavior pattern of the food crop trade system from production, distribution, to consumption, he added.
On the production side, it is hoped that the government can increase the productivity of agricultural lands, especially food commodities, he said.
This can start with the selection of suitable land, the development of supporting infrastructure, such as irrigation or irrigation systems, as well as the provision of good agricultural production facilities, such as seeds, fertilizers, and anti-pest substances, as well as plant disease handling.
"As well as providing a cheap but quality logistics system, so that transportation costs or transportation of agricultural products can be efficient," Sumarto said.
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Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Katriana
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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