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View all search resultsBGN suggests using potatoes, fish in school meals to help curb inflation
National Nutrition Agency (BGN) head Dadan Hindayana said on Friday that all kitchens, formally called nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG), are recommended to diversify their menu while considering the availability of the food in the local markets and to support farmers.
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High-stakes mission: A staffer displays a free nutritious meal on Oct. 29 at a nutrition fulfillment service unit (SPPG) of the Surabaya Police headquarters in Surabaya. The Surabaya Police SPPG is one of police-operated 771 SPPGs to implement the free meals program in areas across Indonesia. The SPPG provides meals to 3,119 beneficiaries every day at schools within its service area. (Antara/Didik Suhartono)
T
he National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has instructed all kitchens to prioritize preparing school meals using ingredients that are still abundant in local markets to help reduce the rising prices of certain commodities that have become menu favorites.
BGN head Dadan Hindayana said on Friday that all kitchens, formally called nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG), are recommended to diversify their menu while considering the availability of the food in the local markets and to support farmers.
“[The kitchens] are told to pay attention to commodities that are more abundant until prices stabilize. For example, they can use potatoes or other carbohydrate sources [if they] are more available [than rice],” he told The Jakarta Post.
The government has rolled out the free nutritious meal program nationwide, providing daily meals for students and pregnant women. As of October, it had more than 36 million recipients across the country.
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported that food prices climbed to their highest level in more than two years, rising 6.6 percent year-on-year (yoy) in October, driven by surging demand for eggs and chicken.
BPS deputy for distribution and services Pudji Ismartini said eggs and chicken recorded annual inflation of 4.43 percent and 1.13 percent, respectively, adding that both are top contributors to monthly inflation.
She said that while other factors also play a part in the rising prices, the free meals program may have also significantly contributed since thousands of kitchens make purchases of chickens and eggs for the program.
