Food is the most important basic human need, and its fulfilment is part of human rights. Indonesia still faces a severe hunger problem based on the 2019 Global Hunger Index (GHI Index). Meanwhile, in a family, children are the most vulnerable group in terms of food distribution. Children depend on their parents for their nutrition, and other family needs often displace this need.
According to FOI research, about 28 percent of early childhood or toddlers in Indonesia experiencing hunger from morning to noon. While in some densely populated places, the figure can reach 40-50 percent or even more. Hunger referred to here is the condition of the child’s stomach being empty or having little money to buy snacks around early childhood education programs (PAUD) so that in a long time, it will cause malnutrition problems. The two main factors that cause hunger in toddlers are poverty and lack of knowledge about food by parents or caregivers.
It is aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has increased hunger in toddlers around the world. According to the United Nations (UN), the social and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic can cause nearly seven million children worldwide to experience stunting due to malnutrition.
Ironically, this also happens in Indonesia, a maritime country with the potential for an extraordinary wealth of marine resources. The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) even recorded a rough estimate of Indonesia’s marine potential until March 2019 of IDR 1,772 trillion. This figure equals 93 percent of total revenue in the 2018 State Budget (State Revenue and Expenditure Budget).
To that end, the Foodbank of Indonesia (FOI) collaboration with the Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP) UGM held a virtual Indonesia 4.0 Food Conference. This online seminar was held to welcome World Food Day 2020 and the “Action of 1000 Mothers for Indonesia” series last Thursday (15/10). This action aimed to free toddlers from hunger. Currently, 5,800 mothers are working with FOI to open access to food for 52,000 children together to fight hunger in children under five and achieve the nation’s goals for a better future for Indonesia.
This seminar was opened by drg. Ika Dewi Ana, M.Kes., Ph.D, UGM Vice-Rector for Research and Community Service. The event also presented expert and multi-stakeholder from the Directorate General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products, Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries, academia, the business world represented by Bee Jay Bakau Resort and Frisian Flag, media, and bloggers.
According to the founder of FOI, Hendro Utomo, this activity was carried out to fight hunger in toddlers to achieve the dream of an independent Indonesia. Hendro hopes that this campaign and action can inspire all parties to collaborate according to their respective fields to support toddlers who are the future of Indonesia.
“Hopefully, the cooperation of all parties can lead Indonesia to achieve the dream of 100 percent independence,” he said.
It is in line with Ika’s statement that universities, especially UGM, need to work together in terms of education, research, and community service for a better future for Indonesian children. “The data presented by the FOI is a picture of the hunger that occurs in toddlers in Indonesia, universities need to remap their roles and jointly involve the community, industry, government, volunteers who care about the future of the nation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Ir. Eni Harmayani, M.Sc, Dean of FTP UGM, stated her commitment to open access to food for vulnerable groups, especially toddlers, not only from education. Her party also took concrete actions to eat fish for 20,000 toddlers in collaboration with BeeJay Seafood and FOI. “Toddlers are the future of the nation, so we must work together to fight hunger in toddlers, especially amid a pandemic, especially with Indonesia’s maritime potential as a mega-biodiversity country,” she said.
Director-General of PDSPKP Ministry and Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. Artati Widiarti, MA., said that KKP’s efforts to make fish an alternative food for the community are appropriate to support community nutrition improvement programs and stunting management. “The Movement to Promote Fish Eating (Gemarikan) will support the acceleration of stunting reduction by 14 percent until 2024. This movement has a strategic position in responding to national problems such as food, health, and intelligence problems,” he concluded.
