Minister of Social Affairs: Preventing Stunting Starts with Quality Food

SEMARANG (February 14, 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs continues to improve social assistance programs by providing quality food assistance to poor families to prevent stunting.

"Improving the food quality of poor families where in this Basic Food Program food commodities are expanded such as rice, corn, wheat, meat, eggs, vegetables, and fruits," said the Minister of Social Affairs when distributing Basic Food Program assistance at E-Warong KUBE Mandiri Jaya in Bojongsalaman Village, West Semarang District, Friday.

According to her, additional food ingredients such as vegetables, fruits, fresh fish, meat, or nuts can be processed into complementary foods.

Besides, additional food ingredients can also improve nutrition for pregnant women.

"This also supports the National Program for the Acceleration of Stunting Prevention," continued the Minister.

One of the beneficiaries of the Basic Food Program, Nur Krisnawati (30), a resident of Puspanjolo Tengah 2 RT 04/04 Cabean Village, West Semarang District, said that she would prioritize buying vegetables and fish for her and her child's food needs. She is a housewife who is breastfeeding her one-year-old toddler.

"I'm happy that from now on, E-Warong has available foodstuffs that I don't usually eat. I rarely eat fish, I can't buy it. But now I will buy catfish and tilapia if available, for me and my children. Now children are told to eat fish to be healthy," she said.

Regarding the program, starting in 2020 the Ministry of Social Affairs transformed the Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) into the Basic Food Program with a target of 15.6 million KPM.

The budget for the Basic Food Program in 2020 is IDR28 trillion or an increase from the original IDR20.4 trillion due to an increase in the assistance index from IDR110,000/KPM/month to IDR150,000/KPM/month.

Additional Capital Award for Outstanding KUBEs

On the same occasion, the Minister of Social Affairs symbolically awarded 5 (five) Outstanding Joint Business Groups (KUBE) in the form of additional People's Business Credit (KUR) capital.

The five E-Warong KUBEs are E-Warong KUBE Mandiri Jaya, E-Warong KUBE Maju Makmur, E-Warong KUBE Amanah, E-Warong KUBE Bulusan Sejahtera, and E-Warong KUBE Lumintu.

"This is in accordance with the President's direction for community empowerment towards business entrepreneurs," said the Minister.

The Minister mentioned that the indicator of the success of KUBE is seen from the development of services and also the independence of E-Warong KUBE management members.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs is tasked with realizing the welfare of the people not only by providing social assistance, but also to empower the community to be better economically," said the Minister.

Meanwhile, Director General of Poverty Management Andi Z. Dulung said the number of Food Aid beneficiaries in Central Java Province was 4,183,935 KPM spread across 35 regencies/cities.

Meanwhile, Semarang City has 41,326 beneficiaries until 2020 with a total assistance of IDR74.3 billion.

The number of e-Warong in Semarang city is 255 consisting of 60 e-Warong Kube, 174 BNI 46 agents, and 21 RPK. For the West Semarang sub-district, there are 30 e-Warongs consisting of 5 E-Warong Kube, 24 BNI 46 agents, and 1 Rumah Pangan Kita (RPK).

The Human Resources (HR) of Food Social Assistance Facilitators in Semarang city is 18 people consisting of 1 Supervisor, 1 Field/Technical Coordinator, and 16 Sub-district Food Social Assistance Facilitators.

Attending the event were the Mayor of Semarang Hendrar Prihadi, Echelon I and II Officials within the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Senior Advisor of the Minister of Social Affairs, Experts of the Minister of Social Affairs, the President Director of BNI, Head of Central Java Province Social Office and Head of Semarang City Social Offiice, Food Social Assistance Facilitators, and 1000 Beneficiary Families (KPM).

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs RI