West Papua Governor Instructs Citizens Not To Consume Rice On Mondays And Thursdays

Rice (Photo: Antara)

Acting Governor of West Papua Ali Baham Temongmere issued instruction number 100.3.4/766/GPB/2024 regarding the two-day movement without eating rice for all people in West Papua.

Acting Regional Secretary of West Papua Yacob Fonataba said the instruction intended that the community should reduce dependence on rice and be replaced with local food commodities.

"The governor has issued instructions for two days without eating rice, namely Monday and Thursday, replacing it with eating local food commodities," Yacob said, quoting Antara.

According to him, the two-day without rice movement must be implemented by all local government officials, ministries/agencies, BUMN, BUMD, private parties, and community components spread across seven districts.

The governor also instructed that every event organized by local governments, ministries/agencies, BUMN, BUMD, and private parties are required to provide a menu of local food-based food.

"All products whose basic ingredients of rice are replaced with local food as a source of carbohydrates such as sago, bananas, corn, and tubers," he said.

The governor's instruction, he said, had been forwarded to seven district governments throughout West Papua which were then carried out comprehensive socialization to the people in each region.

Local governments need the support of traditional leaders, religious leaders, and community leaders to optimize the two-day movement without eating rice or derivative products from rice.

"Local governments will involve hotel business actors in campaigning for the two-day movement without eating rice," Yacob explained.

Previously, the West Papua Provincial Government had echoed the creation of diverse local food menus, balanced nutrition, and safe through organizing competitions that could motivate all levels of society.

The creation competition encourages an increase in the ability of people to process various nutritious menus for consumption so that the local food diversification program is achieved according to expectations.