December 2, 2024

Indonesian fisheries minister promotes including fish as part of country's free meals programme

Indonesia's Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, encouraged the inclusion of fish as a protein source in the government's Free Nutritious Meals programme.

"Proteins from the fisheries sector must be available in all of the Free Nutritious Meals kitchens," he remarked after a coordination meeting at his office on November 28.

Trenggono confirmed that his ministry will hold a technical meeting with the National Nutrition Agency to discuss distribution strategies and the availability of fishery stocks, particularly for kitchens involved in the Free Nutritious Meals programme.

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries also focuses on thematic fishery production, such as encouraging the development of areas based on superior commodities, like creating tilapia-producing villages. This programme is implemented to ensure that protein from the fishery sector can be easily accessed by people across Indonesia, including in areas with minimal local fishery production, especially in supporting the Free Nutritious Meals programme.

Trenggono also noted that his ministry will coordinate with the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions to strengthen thematic fishery production in villages, helping them become centers for fishery production and distribution. This approach is expected to improve community nutrition, particularly in areas that have lacked fish-based protein.

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries is optimistic that the programme will meet the community's protein needs from the fisheries sector while supporting national efforts to eradicate malnutrition.

"The protein from the fisheries sector must be available in all Free Nutritious Meals areas," Trenggono said.

- Antara