Badanas Encourages Sago To Be Part Of The National Food Security Integral

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) encourages one of the local sago resources to become part of the national food security integral in addition to rice.

"It's time for local foods to be appointed and used as an integral part of national food security," said Deputy for Food Consumption and Safety at Badanas Andriko Noto Susanto in a statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Monday, July 15.

Andriko said, in an effort to realize food independence based on local resources, Bapanas continues to encourage the food industry to raise local food potential, one of which is sago.

He admitted that he had made a visit to the sago processing factory PT Galih Sago Pangan in Tangerang, Banten.

He said, PT. Galih Sago Pangan itself has been producing sago rice since 2018. The orientation of this Small and Medium Industry (IKM) is to make sago rice an alternative to local food security for the community throughout the archipelago and abroad.

He said, there are various types of products produced from sago preparations such as snacks (snacks) and sago noodles, as well as superior products, namely sago rice. According to him, Indonesia has many local food potentials such as sago that has not been optimized.

"In accordance with the mandate of the Food Law, it is time for us to use this resource to support national food independence," he said.

Andriko emphasized the importance of lifting local food in accordance with the mandate of the Food Law Number 18 of 2012.

He considered, over the last 10 years, Indonesia has experienced a shift in consumption patterns that are increasingly uniform. This has a risk in the event of food vulnerability so it needs to be anticipated.

"Food diversification is very important to realize food independence based on local resources. It is time for us to raise local foods such as sago which has great potential," he said.

According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), national sago production in 2022 will reach 367,132 tons, with Riau as the largest producing province that accounts for 274,807 tons.

This sago production shows the great potential for alternative foods besides rice, starting from restoring the habit of sago consumption as staple foods such as in Papua, Maluku, or other eastern regions.

Bapanas is committed to making local food part of the Government Food Reserve (CCP) and Regional Government Food Reserves (CPPD) in addition to rice, in accordance with the potential of each region.

"With the synergy between food stakeholders, both from the government, the private sector, and the community, we can optimize the local potential of each region to increase national food security," said Andriko.

Meanwhile, Head of Badanas Arief Prasetyo Adi said that food diversification is a strategic step to reduce dependence on one type of food such as rice.

According to Arief, food diversification is not only important for food security, but also for public health. Local foods such as sago, corn, and tubers have high nutritional value and can be a healthy alternative.

"Local food development such as sago not only increases food security but also strengthens the regional economy. The National Food Agency is committed to continuing to encourage the use of local food in national food security programs," said Arief.

Through this effort, continued Arief, Bapanas hopes to create sustainable food independence and strengthen national food security by utilizing the wealth of Indonesia's local resources.