The quality and variation (of moringa products) are good, some are made into tea, while others are made into powder, which can be used as food (ingredient).
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) has said that it expects the government to promote moringa (Moringa oleifera) as a national food source since the plant is nutritious for babies, toddlers, and pregnant women.

Moringa is rich in nutrients, including Vitamins A and C, calcium, and essential amino acids, which are excellent for the development of the brain and nerves of babies and toddlers and the health of pregnant women, BKKBN head Hasto Wardoyo said when contacted by ANTARA on Thursday.

Moringa is a local plant, which can be cultivated anywhere and obtained at an affordable price, but not many people are familiar with the plant, he added.

Hence, the BKKBN head called for conducting thorough research regarding the processing of moringa based on the recommendations of nutritionists.

For instance, people should only use the leaves of moringa as a food or medicinal ingredient, he added.

The stem of the plant should not be consumed as it will reduce the nutritional benefits, he informed.

More research must also be conducted to determine the proportional daily intake of moringa for each age group and pregnant women as well as to assess whether the nutrients contained by the plant are enough to replace people’s animal protein intake, Wardoyo said.

Currently, a number of regions have become manufacturing centers and exporters of moringa products, such as East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Central Sulawesi, and Central Java, he noted.

"The quality and variation (of moringa products) are good, some are made into tea, while others are made into powder, which can be used as food (ingredient)," the BKKBN head said.

In addition to moringa, he informed that his agency is also promoting the importance of protein intake from eggs, fish, and fortified rice to tackle stunting in Indonesia.

Earlier, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that moringa, as one of Indonesia's traditional food ingredients and herbs, should be promoted to be widely used by the international community, just like ginseng from Korea.

"We will conduct formal research (on the use of moringa), thus it (moringa) can be accepted (as a food and herb source) globally," he said.

Related news: BRIN pushes development of functional food to boost food security
Related news: BRIN backs use of microalgae as food source in Indonesia
Related news: Chief of Presidential Staff popularizes sorghum as food source at CFD

.



Translator: Hreeloita Shanti, Uyu Liman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2023