National Food Agency boosts local B2SA foods to reduce stunting

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The National Food Agency (Bapanas) reaffirmed its commitment to reducing stunting by promoting a Diverse, Nutritious, Balanced, and Safe (B2SA) diet based on locally sourced food.The approach is considered essential to strengthening food security and improving public access to balanced nutrition.Bapanas Secretary General Sarwo Edhy said the agency encourages the use of abundant local food resources across regions to help communities, particularly children and pregnant women, meet their daily nutritional needs.He stressed that the B2SA program supports national efforts to lower stunting by ensuring the availability of diverse and nutritious foods.He noted that various local commodities, including cassava, sweet potatoes, corn, sago, taro, and other crops, can serve as alternative sources of carbohydrates to support food diversification.Sarwo added that the benefits of local ingredients will be greater if households begin to understand and process them for daily consumption.Through the B2SA Goes to School initiative, balanced nutrition concepts are introduced early to encourage students to develop healthy eating habits.At the community level, Bapanas is expanding B2SA Food Houses and B2SA Villages to help families grow and process nutritious local ingredients at home.Sarwo said efforts to reduce stunting through the food sector align with agricultural programs that promote home gardening as a source of family nutrition.Earlier, Bapanas Head and Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized that food self-sufficiency must be strengthened at all levels, including households.He said nutritious home gardens can supply carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients from plants cultivated independently.Amran believes that well-managed home gardens will enable families to meet their nutritional needs sustainably.Government efforts have shown progress, with stunting prevalence declining from 21.5 percent in 2023 to 19.8 percent in 2024.