Government to promote fish consumption
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government will promote fish consumption as part of the celebrations for the XVI World Food Day.
State Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan told reporters yesterday the government has chosen fish consumption as the theme for World Food Day celebrations because despite an abundance of fish in Indonesia, fish consumption is still below the health standard set by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
The international theme for World Food Day is: Fighting Hunger and Malnutrition. The theme chosen by the Indonesian government is: Through Fish Consumption, We Elevate the Public's Nutritional Level.
"The world has acknowledged that people who consume enough fish will be more intelligent," he said.
Ibrahim said that on an average, Indonesians consume 18 kilograms of fish per capita each year, which is lower than the FAO's health standard of between 25 kilograms and 30 kilogram. In developed countries, such as Japan, annual fish consumption averages between 65 kilograms and 70 kilograms per capita per year.
Ibrahim said the government hopes to increase the fish consumption rate to between 20 kilograms and 21 kilograms by 1999, when the Sixth Five Year Development Plan period ends.
"Besides being nutritious, fish are abundant here and cheaper than meat," said Ibrahim.
Ibrahim hopes that with the increasing consumption of fish, the cases of malnutrition in Indonesia can, to some extent, be reduced.
He said that Indonesians consume less fish due to several reasons, including uneven distribution of fish, traditions and poverty.
He said that in eastern Indonesia, people are less prosperous than in Java, but they consume more fish than people in Java because fish are more difficult to find in Java than in the eastern Indonesia.
Also, he said, in some areas, parents tell their children to eat more rice and less fish because they think this practice is healthier.
The celebration of World Food Day in Indonesia will be held by the Ministry of Food in cooperation with related agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Logistics Agency, the National Fisheries Society, which is a non- governmental organization, and the Jakarta Municipal Administration.
World Food Day falls on Oct. 16, which is also the FAO's anniversary.
The main celebration of the XVI World Food Day, which will be held on Oct. 16 at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, will be attended by President Soeharto.
Other programs related to celebrating World Food Day include a seminar, in early October, on fisheries and food consumption; an exhibition on fisheries and food industries at Taman Mini, from Oct. 16 to Oct. 20; and essay competitions for the categories of junior high school students and senior high school students, who can choose from the themes "Fighting Hunger and Malnutrition" and "Food For All".
The winner of each category will attend the World Food Summit from Nov. 13 to Nov. 17 in Rome, where President Soeharto will give a speech.