Government to promote fish consumption<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government will promote fish
\nconsumption as part of the celebrations for the XVI World Food
\nDay.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan told reporters yesterday
\nthe government has chosen fish consumption as the theme for World
\nFood Day celebrations because despite an abundance of fish in
\nIndonesia, fish consumption is still below the health standard
\nset by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).<\/p>\n
The international theme for World Food Day is: Fighting Hunger
\nand Malnutrition. The theme chosen by the Indonesian government
\nis: Through Fish Consumption, We Elevate the Public's Nutritional
\nLevel.<\/p>\n
"The world has acknowledged that people who consume enough
\nfish will be more intelligent," he said.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim said that on an average, Indonesians consume 18
\nkilograms of fish per capita each year, which is lower than the
\nFAO's health standard of between 25 kilograms and 30 kilogram. In
\ndeveloped countries, such as Japan, annual fish consumption
\naverages between 65 kilograms and 70 kilograms per capita per
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim said the government hopes to increase the fish
\nconsumption rate to between 20 kilograms and 21 kilograms by
\n1999, when the Sixth Five Year Development Plan period ends.<\/p>\n
"Besides being nutritious, fish are abundant here and cheaper
\nthan meat," said Ibrahim.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim hopes that with the increasing consumption of fish,
\nthe cases of malnutrition in Indonesia can, to some extent, be
\nreduced.<\/p>\n
He said that Indonesians consume less fish due to several
\nreasons, including uneven distribution of fish, traditions and
\npoverty.<\/p>\n
He said that in eastern Indonesia, people are less prosperous
\nthan in Java, but they consume more fish than people in Java
\nbecause fish are more difficult to find in Java than in the
\neastern Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Also, he said, in some areas, parents tell their children to
\neat more rice and less fish because they think this practice is
\nhealthier.<\/p>\n
The celebration of World Food Day in Indonesia will be held by
\nthe Ministry of Food in cooperation with related agencies,
\nincluding the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Logistics
\nAgency, the National Fisheries Society, which is a non-
\ngovernmental organization, and the Jakarta Municipal
\nAdministration.<\/p>\n
World Food Day falls on Oct. 16, which is also the FAO's
\nanniversary.<\/p>\n
The main celebration of the XVI World Food Day, which will be
\nheld on Oct. 16 at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, will be attended
\nby President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Other programs related to celebrating World Food Day include a
\nseminar, in early October, on fisheries and food consumption; an
\nexhibition on fisheries and food industries at Taman Mini, from
\nOct. 16 to Oct. 20; and essay competitions for the categories of
\njunior high school students and senior high school students, who
\ncan choose from the themes "Fighting Hunger and Malnutrition" and
\n"Food For All".<\/p>\n
The winner of each category will attend the World Food Summit
\nfrom Nov. 13 to Nov. 17 in Rome, where President Soeharto will
\ngive a speech.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-to-promote-fish-consumption-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}