Indonesia towards Zero Hunger

this is my unpublished essay for SIYLEP pre-departure training. I’m going to post it here so it wouldn’t be wasted

Indonesia towards Zero Hunger

Lala Sri Fadila

            Currently, hunger is still a problem in the world. Although food production in the world has increased gradually, hunger and malnutrition continue. Data from WFP (2018) stated that currently, there are 821 million people in the world who experience hunger. Whereas in Indonesia, starvation still occurs in 7.6 percent of the population, approximately 19.7 million people. Malnutrition, which is a result of hunger, can be seen from the nutritional status of the community. The number of toddlers who experience chronic malnutrition and stunting can indirectly describe hunger in a country. In Indonesia, the prevalence of nationally stunting infants is as much as 30.8 percent in 2013; this number dropped from 37.2 percent in 2013 (Kementerian Kesehatan 2013; Kementerian Kesehatan 2019). Although the trend is declining, this figure is still relatively high and less than WHO recommendations on stunting rates.

            Besides, food insecurity still occurs in various regions in Indonesia. There are six priority levels where parts are classified based on food insecurity, nutrition status, and poverty rate. The Food Security and Vulnerability Atlas created by Dewan Ketahanan Pangan (2018) shows that there are 26 Priority 1 districts, spread across various provinces such as Papua, West Papua, Maluku, and East Nusa Tenggara. In contrast, there are 2 Priority 1 cities, Subulussalam in Aceh Province and Tual in Maluku Province.

            Hunger, which is closely related to food security, is caused by several different and interrelated factors. This incident does not necessarily result from poor food availability. WFP (2015) stated that some of the reasons for hunger in the world consist of poverty, lack of investment in agriculture, drastic changes in weather and climate, conflict and war, instability in market food prices, and food waste. Unstable economic conditions and lack of attention and support for agriculture can cause an area to experience food insecurity. FAO develops food security indicators into four dimensions: availability, access, stability, and utilization (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2013). Food security can be achieved when these four dimensions are fully considered without leaving one of them.

            To overcome hunger and achieve food security in the world, the United Nations, as a unifying organization of countries in the world, developed various strategies starting from the determination of the Millennium Development Goals for the period 2000 to 2015. One of the related points is MDGs target 1C: “Reducing the proportion of the population suffering from hunger by half between 1990 and 2015”. After 2015, this strategy was remade in Sustainable Development Goals, specifically in Goal 2, which is “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.” There are five pillars of this target: (1) zero children aged less than two years who experience stunting; (2) 100 percent access to adequate food throughout the year; (3) all sustainable food systems; (4) 100 percent increase in productivity and income of farmers in rural areas; and (5) zero food waste and loss (Milano 2015). As a complement to encourage joint initiatives in countries around the world, the Zero Hunger Challenge was initiated in 2012 by the UN Secretary-General. This “challenge” is aimed at the governments of various states so they can be encouraged to reach the second goal of the SDGs.

In responding to the Zero Hunger Challenge, the Indonesian government, which is now under the leadership of President Joko Widodo, forms the 7th plan of Nawacita to achieve food sovereignty. The main target that intersects with Zero Hunger is in the development of Food Security and Health. In the aspect of Food Security, the government targets an increase in the production of basic commodities, such as rice, corn, soybeans, sugar, meat, and fish, and increase calorie consumption from 1967 kcal to 2150 (Kementerian Negara Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional (Bappenas) 2014). Also, the Expected Food Pattern Score (PPH) is targeted to increase to 92, 5. These three targets are realized to ensure food security in all regions of Indonesia so that food availability increases and the incidence of hunger decreases. The main goal in the Health aspect is the reduction of stunting prevalence in children under two years of age from 32.9% in 2013 to 28% in 2019.

The policies compiled by the Indonesian government in the strategy to strengthen food sovereignty are as follows:

1. Extensification and intensification of fisheries to support food and nutrition security

2. Strengthening advocacy related to consumption diversification: (i) diversifying the supply and consumption of quality, healthy and halal non-rice food; (ii) balanced nutrition education for families through posyandu; (iii) increased consumption of animal protein (meat and eggs); (iv) promoting interest and consumption of fish and fish-based processed products in the community, (v) Increasing consumption of vegetables and fruit and increasing utilization of land.

3. Increasing the role of industry and local governments in the availability of diverse, safe, and nutritious food.

In the health sector, several policies to support the decline in the prevalence of stunting in children under two are as follows:

1. Accelerating the fulfillment of access to quality maternal, child, adolescent, and elderly health services through increasing the role of community-based health efforts including posyandu and other integrated services in maternal, child, adolescent, and elderly health services

2. Accelerating the improvement of community nutrition through increasing access to and quality of health and nutrition service packages with a primary focus on the first 1,000 days of pregnancy, prospective bride and groom and pregnant women, and increased promotion of community behavior regarding health, nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and care.

With Zero Hunger, we can end malnutrition by ensuring the availability of safe, nutritious, and adequate food throughout the year. Good nutrition intake can affect growth and development, especially for children who are still in the golden period of growth. Creating a brilliant generation with a bright future can help to develop the country in the future.

References:

Dewan Ketahanan Pangan. 2018. “Peta Ketahanan Dan Kerentanan Pangan Indonesia.” Dewan Ketahanan Pangan & World Food Programme, 210.

Food and Agriculture Organization. 2013. “The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2013.” Geneva.

Kementerian Kesehatan. 2013. “Riset Kesehatan Dasar.” Jakarta.

Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. 2019. “Laporan Nasional Riskesdas 2018.” latbingkes.kemkes.go.id.

Kementerian Negara Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional (Bappenas). 2014. “Buku I Agenda Pembangunan Nasional,” 1–289. perpustakaan.bappenas.go.id/lontar/file?file=digital/20905-[_Konten_]…

Milano, Expo. 2015. “Ending Hunger Is Everyone’ s Responsibility . All of Us Have a Role to Play , Even through the Commitment to Change Simple Day-to-Day Actions or Decisions . The Zero Hunger Challenge United for a Sustainable World.”

WFP. 2018. Hunger Map 2018. World Food Program.

World Food Programme, Dewan Ketahanan Pangan, and Kementerian Pertanian. 2015. “Peta Ketahanan Dan Kerentanan Pangan Indonesia.” Jakarta.