"The nutritious meal program support (the absorption of) chickens, both eggs and meat," Pambudy informed at a seminar held at the IPB Bogor Agricultural University here on Tuesday.
At the "National Seminar on the Utilization and Downstreaming of Palm Oil as a Driver of Indonesia's Economic Growth and Achieving National Food and Energy Security," he said that Indonesia has recorded an oversupply of chicken for about 25 years.
This is often attributed to excess production. However, in reality, it is due to the low purchasing power of the people.
According to the minister, the MBG Program has shown that the Indonesian people do want to consume chicken and eggs, but do not have the purchasing power to do so.
"Now we understand that the people do want to eat chicken, but they cannot afford to buy chicken, cannot afford to eat eggs. In some areas, when they do not finish their chicken or eggs, when asked why, they say they want to take it home," he said.
Statistical data from Bappenas pegs the number of Indonesians who are undernourished at 180 million. The actual number may be higher.
If action is not taken soon, opportunities will be lost to address the fundamental issues faced by the community, he said.
Therefore, the government is striving to tackle the problem of malnutrition through the MBG program.
"The IPB has the Community Nutrition and Family Resource Major, and the Faculty of Economics and the Human Ecology Study Program. It is the IPB's task (to help resolve the issue of malnutrition)," Pambudy added.
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Translator: M Alatas, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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