Zulhas: Government Focuses on Fish Protein Self-Sufficiency

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) stated that the central government is focusing on fish protein self-sufficiency this year after achieving carbohydrate self-sufficiency. “This year the focus is on fish protein, both wild-caught from the sea and farmed,” Zulhas said in Jakarta on Thursday. Zulhas said that since self-sufficiency in carbohydrates such as rice and maize has now been realised, the government is attempting to focus on fish protein self-sufficiency. He explained that self-sufficiency in fish protein, both farmed and wild-caught, will be achieved by improving fisheries management, especially in fishing villages, one of which involves establishing ‘Red and White Fishermen’s Villages’ (KNMP). Zulhas mentioned that these villages will later provide for the needs of fishermen, such as ice factories, cold storage facilities, auction halls, and so on. “We will create fishermen’s villages. Because our fishermen have no bargaining power,” he said following the National Coordination Meeting on the Acceleration of National Priority Work Programmes for the Marine and Fisheries Sector. In addition to fishermen’s villages, Zulhas said the government is also working to build thematic freshwater fish farming villages in 40,000 villages, all of which are part of the government’s steps towards fish protein self-sufficiency. “The farming will also be divided, some in Java and some outside Java. There will even be a target of 40,000 villages,” he said. Based on data from the National Food Agency, the average total protein consumption of the Indonesian population is around 61.7 to 62.3 grams per capita per day, which has met the Nutritional Adequacy Rate. However, from that figure, the proportion of animal protein is still low, with daily animal protein consumption figures ranging between 17 and 18 grams per capita. In more detail, according to National Food Agency data, the breakdown of daily animal protein consumption per capita for the fish, shrimp, and shellfish group is around 9.58 grams. Then red meat and poultry is around 4.79 grams, and eggs and milk is around 3.37 grams. The Ministry of Health continues to encourage an increase in the quality and daily portion of this consumption to prevent stunting in children, recommending that the public consume at least one piece of fish or two eggs every day.