Head Of Bappenas Says Food-Health Development Direction Must Be Comprehensive

Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas) Rachmat Pambudy. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas) Rachmat Pambudy said the direction of food and health development, especially Indonesian nutrition, must be more comprehensive.

Some of the issues and challenges that occur indicate the need for ongoing intervention and governance to transform food and nutrition systems in Indonesia. The direction of food and health development, especially nutrition, in the future must be more comprehensive," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, November 28.

Rachmat said that food and health development needs to be responsive to the challenges of the health burdens faced in the future, such as climate change, demographic transition, conflict, and development of health technology.

Moreover, he continued, food and nutrition development has become the main foundation in realizing the 2045 Golden Indonesia Vision which is in line with the mandate of Law Number 59 of 2024 concerning the 2025-2045 National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN).

It is noted that 81 regencies/cities in Indonesia are still experiencing food insecurity amid the threat of tripletary crisis, in the form of climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution, and environmental degradation.

Indonesia is also facing the Triple Burden of Malnutrition, referring to data from the 2024 Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey which shows the percentage of children in stunting conditions is 19.8 percent, underweight 16.8 percent, spending 7.4 percent, and overweight 3.4 percent, and high deficiency of micro nutrients.

In addition, he said, one of the two school-age children and two of the three women of fertile age experience deficiency of micro nutritional substances.

Through the Pre-WNPG XII forum which was held with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), it is hoped that it can answer food and nutrition problems, as well as formulate policies and strategies in the transformation of an inclusive and sustainable food and nutrition system.

The stakeholders involved in the forum include universities, professional organizations, local governments, the business world, and development partners.

"We have about five more years to get to 2030 to complete the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target. In 2041, we hope to get out of the middle income trap (middle income trap)," said Rachmat.

On the same occasion, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana appreciated the contribution of experts and academics in the forum, and welcomed recommendations that would strengthen food and sustainable nutrition policies.

The forum was followed up by discussions between the Special Staff of the Minister of National Development Planning/Bappenas Professor Eriyatno, Chairperson of AIPG AIPI (Food and Nutrition Sciences Academy, Indonesian Academy of Sciences) Professor Aman Wiratakusumah, Professor of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (UI) as well as Professor Rina Agustina, Professor of Nutrition at the Faculty of Human Ecology at the Bogor Agricultural Institute (FEMA IPB) Professor Hardinsyah, and Assistant Deputy for Food Price Stabilization, Coordinating Ministry for Food M. Siradj Parwito.

The discussion highlighted the strategy of transforming food and nutrition systems, related to availability, affordability, consumption, as well as institutions and governance.

The forum, which is the first step towards the peak of the XII WNPG, was followed up with the formation of the XII WNPG Coordination Team.

The team consisting of representatives of ministries/agencies, experts, development partners, and professional organizations is expected by Bappenas to produce educational-based solution recommendations on strategic issues as well as updating recommendations, concepts, and methodology of more accurate food and nutrition development indicators.