Realization Of Egg And Chicken Meat Assistance For Stunting Risk Families Reaches 69 Percent

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi conveyed that the realization of food assistance for eggs and chicken meat to 1.4 million families of stunting risk (KRS) had reached 69 percent or 995 thousand packages as of May 18, 2023.

"In total there are seven provinces that are targeted for distribution. We have also started distribution in two provinces in eastern Indonesia, namely NTT and West Sulawesi," Arief said as quoted by Antara, Friday, May 19.

The distribution of the first phase of the food aid for eggs and chicken meat has in detail been distributed in six provinces, namely, Banten as many as 51 thousand packages (79 percent), West Java 338 thousand packages (82 percent), Central Java 308 thousand packages (95 percent), East Java 252 thousand packages (67 percent), and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), West Sulawesi, and North Sumatra 46 thousand packages (33 percent).

Arief explained that the government boosted the distribution of food aid for eggs and chicken meat to 1.4 million recipients. In addition to reducing stunting rates, it is also in the context of controlling the price of eggs and chicken meat at the consumer level.

"The main goal of this program is to reduce stunting, but by involving small independent farmer partners as product suppliers, the program that is run according to the direct direction of the President is recognized by farmers to contribute to maintaining the stability of the selling price of eggs and chicken at the farmer level," he said.

In order to accelerate the distribution of aid, Badanas also encourages the Food SOE Holding ID FOOD to accelerate the distribution of aid, so that the first stage can be completed immediately and can immediately enter the second and third stages.

For the accelerated distribution steps that will be taken, Arief said, among other things, through increasing the facilitation of egg and chicken stock distribution from production centers to provinces or areas with limited stock.

"In addition, we also ask ID FOOD to add and increase partnership cooperation with small independent breeders so that stock distribution is safe and distribution through PT Pos can be accelerated," he said.

Separately, ID FOOD President Director Frans Marganda Tambunan said, starting this third week of May and beyond, ID FOOD has started distribution to the provinces of West Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara.

"We will pursue the realization of distribution in the seven provinces according to the number of KRS and the deadline set by the National Food Agency," he said.

To maintain smooth distribution, he admitted that evaluations were continuously carried out, including intense coordination with all stakeholders involved in field distribution activities such as Berdikari, Rajawali Nusindo, PT Pos, BKKBN, National Food Agency, Food Task Force, and local government.