"The local government also helps to spread agricultural knowledge."
Jayapura (ANTARA News) - The local government of Jayapura has developed an independent food village program to increase food security in the city of Jayapura.

"We began it in 2009 in some villages, including Skouw Sae, Skouw Mabo, Holtekamp, Koya Koso, central Koya and Tobati village, with a budget of Rp100 million for farmers to increase the amount of agricultural production, livestock and fisheries," said Vice Mayor of Jayapura, Tommy Mano, on Saturday.

Beside that, in an effort to increase agricultural production, the local government also assists in the cultivation of vegetables in order to use gardens as a source of protein and minerals for families.

"The local government also helps to spread agricultural knowledge and training to farmers. The program seeks to increase the knowledge and skills of farmers, from 30 percent to 60 percent. We trained 80 farmers and five apprentice farmers from 2011 to 2012," he said.

Mano further said that the local government would encourage the public to use foods other than rice, to assure the success of crops such as sago, taro and cassava.

"We hope society will return to consuming the traditional foods from 13 villages in Jayapura, and help to preserve traditional foods, so as not to abandon these local foods because of food from outside Papua," he said.

Through these various efforts, food security in Jayapura remains adequate, which was reflected in the Balance of Groceries in 2012 as consumption reached 3.000 calories per day, compared with the national range of 2.200 calories per day, while protein consumption per capita reached 57 grams per day.

The achievement of the quality of food consumption with the score of Food Hope Pattern (PPH) of 93,3 percent is higher than the national range 90,5 percent.

Although the availability of rice imports remains less than 70 percent, local carbohydrates such as sago, bananas and tubers remain abundant.

Officials noted that while the pattern of food consumption could be quite varied, the balance of nutrients still needs attention.
(U.S038/INE/KR-BSR/O001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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