The Central Kalimantan Provincial Government-Bapanas work together to alleviate two food insecure districts

Palangka Raya (ANTARA) – The National Food Agency (Bapanas) stated that two districts in Central Kalimantan Province fall into the category of vulnerable to food insecurity, namely Gunung Mas and Murung Raya.

“Currently we continue to strengthen synergy and collaboration with local governments, in order to reduce or eradicate food insecure vulnerable areas,” said Director of Food Insecurity Control,Bapanas Rahmad Firdaus in Palangka Raya, Friday.

He conveyed this after carrying out a coordination meeting with the ranks of the Central Kalimantan Province Food Security Service (Dishanpang), including representatives of the two district governments. Rahmad Firdaus explained, in general the assessment of food insecurity vulnerability is carried out through indicator guidelines according to the provisions.

“So this means vulnerable, if the availability factor is limited, food reserves are small, so access to food is difficult, of course if it is not addressed then the area is vulnerable to food insecurity,” he explained.

Apart from that, other factors which are usually indicators of an area being included in the vulnerable category, namely low access to clean water, high extreme poverty rates, as well as low maternal and child health factors.

“That issue of food and nutrition vulnerability will occur if not addressed,” he explained.

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He explained, the central government is pushing for control efforts in the field, such as drafting regulations, mapping food insecure areas, to intervention steps.

“For example, Murung Raya has a number of vulnerable villages, so we map them out with the hope that every year we have a target to reduce them,” he said.

Also other interventions, such as the cheap food movement, the distribution of Stabilization of Food Supply and Prices (SPHP), distribution of government food reserves and other food aid interventions which are also collaborating with ministries and other institutions.

Head of the Central Kalimantan Dishanpang Riza Rahmadi added that the two districts in question would become one of the focuses of his party in the future through various programs and activities.

“Such as deploying cheap food and encouraging the distribution of SPHP rice to the two districts, so that from the availability side to the price it can be controlled. Of course we will also strengthen synergy with each district government,” he said.

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Reporter: Muhammad Arif Hidayat
Editor : Muhammad Arif Hidayat
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