Tangerang Government promotes local food diversification

The Tangerang City Government is encouraging residents to adopt diverse, balanced, and safe food consumption patterns to reduce heavy reliance on rice. According to regional food balance data, rice demand in Tangerang reaches 188,000 tons per year, or approximately 72 kilograms per capita.

To address this, the Tangerang Food Security Agency (DKP) is educating the public to utilize local carbohydrate alternatives such as tubers and bananas. Muhdorun, Head of the Tangerang DKP, noted that while rice dominates consumption, tuber consumption remains low at only 3.19 kilograms per capita per year.

Beyond nutritional variety, the government aims to boost the local economy by maximizing the potential of local agricultural products and food processing businesses. While the city continues to provide affordable rice through the 'Gerakan Pangan Murah' (Cheap Food Movement) program, officials emphasize that long-term food security requires a shift in consumption habits toward local resources.