Jakarta. The development of the function of "food estate" in the city of Yogyakarta continues to be optimized, not only to fulfill food security as the main function but also to support efforts to handle stunting and even develop it for tourism activities.
"Optimization of the function of the barn is carried out because it is possible to develop other uses of the food estate. Not only for the fulfillment of food but also for other functions that can be utilized, "said Head of the Food Security Division of the Yogyakarta City Food and Agriculture Service Imam Nurwahid in Yogyakarta, Monday.
In the city of Yogyakarta, continued Imam, the food estate program cannot be carried out like in other areas that have large areas but it is carried out with local wisdom and modifications according to the conditions in the city.
According to Imam, the spirit of the food estate program in Yogyakarta City has actually been carried out through Karang Kitri activities which include agricultural and secondary crops cultivation which produce carbohydrates and vegetables which are then integrated with fish and livestock farming as a source of protein.
"In the community then a vegetable village developed which used alleys to grow vegetable food sources in the yard or in the village alley," he said.
In 2019, there are 93 vegetable villages and 32 vegetable aisles. This number has grown to 111 vegetable villages and 52 vegetable aisles by 2020.
In addition, the Mataram Food Granary program was also carried out in a wider area in the region. In the city of Yogyakarta, there are six sub-districts that have become Mataram Pangan Lumbung namely Suryodiningratan, Kricak, Kadipaten, Bausasran, Purbayan, and Karangwaru villages.
Plants to fish and livestock that are produced from vegetable villages, vegetable aisles or food barns can be used for the fulfillment of nutritious food needs.
"The food barn and vegetable village produce food products that meet the balanced needs of carbohydrates, vegetables and protein that can be utilized by the people in the region," he said.
Until now, continued Imam, all vegetable villages, vegetable aisles and food barns in Yogyakarta are able to produce and grow products on a regular basis.
For tourism, continued Imam, it has begun to be developed in several locations of the Mataram Food Barns, namely Purba Asri which is in Purbayan Kotagede Village.
In that location, there are even artifacts in the form of ancient Javanese buildings that are still original and preserved today which were later developed into Mataram Coffee Lumbung. Even in that location, teak plants are also maintained, whose leaves are used for wrapping or serving Sego Lumbung Mataram.
Likewise in the Mataram Markisa Food Barn in Karangwaru Village, Tegalrejo. In that location, a restaurant has been developed which is managed by regional UKM players to enjoy the atmosphere of the Buntung River.
"There are many interesting cultural activities that can be synergized with the existence of the Mataram Food Barn to the vegetable village," he said.
Even so, continued Imam, the focus on agricultural activities must still be prioritized while other functions are to support the fulfillment of nutrition and tourism will develop automatically when the movement exists and is carried out consistently. (Antaranews)