Vice Minister of Agriculture: TWO ALTERNATIVES FOR ACCELERATION OF FOOD DIVERSIFICATION

For diversification that has been launched by the government since a long time ago is proven not easy to be realized. What happened is that it is only a socialization without any realization.

Rusman Heriawan, Vice Minister of Agriculture, after opening a Seminar on “Acceleration of Food Diversification” in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/17) offered tow alternatives to accelerate food diversification. Firstly, benefiting from instant noodles industry which has been growing. In noodle product, there is 30% cassava flour content. The government expects that by this way, consumption of food based on locally produced flour will increase.

So, it not necessary to make noodles which are 100% based on cassava flour raw material which are 100% based on cassava flour raw material. Because noodles based on flour raw material has been dominant, it will be difficult for society to accept noodles based on cassava flour raw material. “It is better to insert cassava flour content into instant noodles instead of making something new but unacceptable to the society”.

The second alternative to accelerate food diversification is through movements at regional level. One of them is by establishing a regional enterprise (BUMD) which handles supply chain of local non-rice food products. For example, in East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara, the regional government forms a business enterprise which handles com supply. In Papua, the regional government forms a stateowned enterprise handling tubers supply.

Therefore, if the interest of the society in consuming local food increases, there is already an institution that handles supply.

Not all movements of local food consumption must become a national policy. If it is like that, food diversification will not be going smoothly. “Rice consumption will not decrease, wheat flour consumption will be growing significantly”.

Census data of the National Bureau of Statistics (BPS) shows that consumption of grains-based food of Indonesian population in 2010 and 2011 in the 1^st quarter shows an increase. In 2010 at 310 gram/capita/day (113.16 kg/capita/year) and becomes 316 gram/capita/year (115.32 kg/capita/year) in 2011. This condition is much higher than grains consumption based on Expected Food Pattern (PPH) at 275 gram/capita/day (100.38 kg/capita/year).

Increase of consumption occurs in rice and flour consumption. Rice consumption increases from 276.07 gram/capita/day (100.76 kg/capita/year) to 281.71 gram/capita/day (102.82 kg/capita/year). While, flour consumption rises from 28.33 gram/capita/day (10.34 kg/capita/year) to 29.93 gram/capita/day (10.92 kg/capita/year).

High dependence on rice and imported food, such as wheat, threatens national food security. Moreover, the Indonesian government not only sets food security as target, but also food independence and sovereignty.

To promote food diversification, the government has issued Presidential Regulation No. 22/2009 on Policy on Acceleration of Diversification of Food Consumption Based on Local Resources and Regulation of Agriculture Minister No. 43/2009 on Movement of Acceleration of Food Consumption Diversification.

Alternative sources of basic food in Indonesia are available in very significant number, starting from cereals up to tubers. Even, there have been a diverse number of alternative food products based on local raw materials. Unfortunately, this is still at socialization and model stage, and not yet becomes a mass movement. “The problem at present is that the food products is still at display stage, and not yet at the stage of consumption by the society”.

Business News - July 20, 2012