According to the ministry's statement received here on Sunday, the program encourages 218 students from 103 varsities across Indonesia to identify local food potential and map out agricultural areas as well as the patterns of locals' production, distribution, and consumption of food for 3.5 months.
The ministry's director of beliefs and traditional communities Sjamsul Hadi noted that the MBKP program aims for a long-term objective of broadening people's outlook on local food ingredients by offering students an opportunity to explore their ideas and interests to create innovations.
He also explained that the program, launched on Saturday (October 5), is the result of collaboration between the ministry's Directorate General of Culture and Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology.
Meanwhile, Acting Head of Lembata District Paskalis Ola Tapobali commended the MBKP program while expressing hope that the central government's youth empowerment initiative would result in recommendations that the district government can use.
"I want the MBKP program to produce more than a mere database. I hope this program will also result in program and activity recommendations related to the arrangement of the regional action plan for the 29 targeted villages," he remarked.
Among the participants of the empowerment program is Atthoya Atthur Harry Aslam, a student majoring in aquatic resources management from the University of Riau.
Appointed as an enumerator tasked with collecting data, Aslam expressed optimism about the program assisting him in honing his competencies and making better preparations before becoming a professional in the future.
"Indonesia is home to a wide range of local foods, which are parts of culture. I am interested in identifying them and learning from local wisdom in Lembata to boost their value," he stated.
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Translator: Sean F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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