papuachronicle.co – Jayapura. Vice Minister of Home Affairs Ribka Haluk encouraged the use of Papua’s agricultural products to support the program of providing free nutritious food for school children. This was conveyed at the Review of the Trial of Providing Healthy and Nutritious Food at Dobonsolo Sentani Elementary School, Jayapura Regency, Papua on Wednesday (11/20/2024).
“Papua is quite rich in nature. Don’t let there be a shortage of vegetables, side dishes, eggs, chicken, pork, goat, beef, and so on (in here),” said Ribka.
According to Ribka, the use of local food in the nutritious food program is not only to improve children’s nutrition, but also to support the welfare of local farmers and fishermen. According to her, the government must be the main buyer of community agricultural products to support food security while driving the local economy.
“All agricultural products from the community must be purchased by the government and create a nutritious diet for children. We must not get used to buying all ready-to-eat food from stores or food imported from outside Papua,” she said.
This nutritious food program is part of Asta Cita, namely the eight priority programs of the government of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The trial was carried out in November and December 2024 in preparation for full implementation in 2025.
Ribka also emphasized the importance of coordination between the regional government and the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) in implementing this program.
Through this program, the government is trying to build a healthy golden generation of Indonesia that is ready to compete in 2045. “This (Free Nutritious Food Program) must really be promoted nationally so that we get to one locus. We produce a prosperous society, physically and mentally, then our society is also well-nourished, especially our children,” she concluded.