In line with the vision of Omar Niode Foundation to be an organization that plays a role in increasing the quantity of competent and qualified Indonesian human resources in agriculture, food, and culinary arts, we joined Festival Perempuan dan Pangan. KEHATI, The Indonesian Biodiversity Foundation organized Women and Food Festival to celebrate the National Women’s Day that falls on Saturday, 22 December.

To jazz up the event, KEHATI collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of Environment; Dompet Dhuafa charity organization, Omar Niode Foundation; JRSP (Farmers and Fishers Radio Network), Kalbe Farma pharmaceutical company, Tabloid Nova; Women’s Health Indonesia Magazine and Unilever Indonesia.

Themed the role of women in supporting food security, nutrition and health, the organizer referred to the Indonesian Food Act No. 18 Year 2012. Food Security is the fulfillment of food for the state up to the individuals, that is reflected by food availability that is sufficient, both in quantity and quality, safe, diverse, nutritious, prevalent and affordable as well as not conflicting with religion, belief and culture, to live healthy, active and productive in a sustainable manner.

The Saturday celebration had several objectives:

1. Sharing knowledge and experiences among women who are active in food, nutrition and health issues

2. Increasing awareness on the importance of the role of women in maintaining national food security.

3. Establishing networks between housewives with food and health practitioners.

The day started with a morning exercise followed by breakfast with a choice of rice flour porridge; Manado porridge, rich in spices and vegetables; and mung bean porridge.  Chef Suhada of Syailendra Restaurant, JW Marriot Hotel entertained the audience with healthy cooking demo, preparing omelet by mixing eggs with alternative ingredients such as cassava.

Indonesia has extremely high food diversity. Women are the key to preserving the diversity of food sources, and family health. Through this festival, women had shared information and gained knowledge on local food ingredients, processing of healthy and nutritional meals, as well as policies on food security.

The highlight of the festival was a food workshop with outstanding resource persons.

Gayatri Karyawati Rana from the Agency for Food Security, Ministry of Agriculture described the national food diversity policy. Based on the law, food diversity is implemented among others through optimization of local food; technology and incentive system development for local food processing business; introducing new type of food, including local food; and development of food industry based on local food.

Nur Mahmudi Ismail (Mayor of Depok) explained his famous One Day No Rice policy. Applied in the area of his jurisdiction this policy has created controversies especially for those who considered eating rice is pat of the culture.  Nur Mahmudi who holds a PhD in food Science and Technology from Texas A&M University defends his policy by explaining that it is an option for healthier life while implementing government policy.

The workshop also featured Ida Farida from Pertanian Sehat Indonesia (Healthy Agriculture Indonesia) who works with farmer communities to minimize the use of pesticides. Esti Ambarwati Pratiwi owner of Arum Ayu bakery who uses different kinds of tubers for her products has introduced her concept to thousand of students while Rosalina Pulubuhu from Kedai Balitaku/KEBAL (Our Child’s Healthy Café) described the social entrepreneurship that provides varied, balanced, nutritious and safe meals to schoolchildren. Erna Cipta Fahmi from Dompet Dhuafa shared her experience on integrating traditional medicine (herbal) and modern medicine.

Festival audience learned from the workshop that nutrition is not synonymous with rice, food is also not identical to rice. Nutrition is primarily a combination of protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins and minerals.

A bazaar in the festival showcased products and services that increased the audience’s understanding on the workshop subjects.  KEHATI & its partners opened several tables displaying products and services from among others Sarongge Organic Farm, Slow Food Jakarta-Kemang , Omar Niode Foundation, Indonesia Organic Alliance,  Kedai Balitaku, Arum Ayu Bakery, Indonesia Berseru and Healthy Choice.

As women usually come to festivals with children, the organizer took care of children who visited with their families by arranging Finger Puppet Workshop with Rumah Pohon Activity, Kite Workshop with the Jakarta Kite Museum, and Drawing Competition themed “my mom’s cooking.”

A line of mothers waited patiently under a long tent, and took turns for health check (blood sugar and blood pressure), consultations on healthy farming, local food processing,  healthy baby food, and nutrition consultation.

It was a rainy season when the festival was held, fortunately the weather was nice, making the 300 people who attended the Festival stayed until the end and enjoyed lunch with Nasi Liwet (rice cooked with coconut milk with chicken, egg and vegetables as side dishes) and Nasi Pecel (rice with vegetables and peanut sauce).

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Images: Omar Niode Foundation