JAKARTA, July 13 (Xinhua) — Around 148,000 local suppliers from various sectors have participated in Indonesia’s free nutritious meal program, helping stimulate rural economic growth and strengthen the country’s food supply chain, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said Monday.
The suppliers include village-owned enterprises, farmer and livestock groups, as well as micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, according to Zulkifli.
He said the government would further encourage the use of locally produced food and support sustainable food self-sufficiency.
The initiative forms part of the government’s efforts to expand the participation of rural communities in the national economy while promoting local food commodities other than rice.
According to the National Nutrition Agency, 6,200 public kitchens in West Java province are expected to generate 6 trillion rupiah (about 332 million U.S. dollars) in economic activity each month.
The agency said the program has helped boost regional economies by increasing demand for locally sourced food products. Enditem
