Celebrate Indonesian pulses diversity to address food security and environment challenges
The numbers of undernourished people are continue to decline from year to year. However, it is estimated that around 800 million people are still in hunger today, and nearly 20 million of them live in Indonesia. Food insecurity is still a major issue for many people and households in Indonesia, especially they who lives in poor areas, where meat, dairy and fish are economically inaccessible.
Pulses can help contribute to tackle food insecurity in a number of ways. Pulses are an inexpensive source of protein—a crucial component of any healthy diet, the protein obtained from pulses is significantly less expensive compared to animal foods. Pulses can also serve as a source of income, as smallholder farmers who grow pulses can sell them at markets, or process them to create added-value products.
Pulses are important food crops and offer significant nutritional and health advantages due to their high protein and essential amino acid content as well as being a source of complex carbohydrates and several vitamins and minerals. Following resolution 6/2013 of the 38th FAO Conference, the UN General Assembly, at its 68th session declared 2016, as the International Year of Pulses (IYP).
The proposal to declare 2016 the International Year of Pulses (IYP) was initially submitted by Pakistan and Turkey in consultation with other countries, who strongly believe that pulses play a major role in addressing the future global food security and environmental challenges as well as contribute to balanced and healthy diets “It is time for us to regain and promote Indonesian richness and diversity through variety of pulse dishes.
Pulses are proven effective in boosting nutrition and making healthy food that is accessible for all, “ states Jiwon Rhee FAO Associate Professional Officer in FAO Representation in Indonesia. People in Indonesia especially in the eastern area embrace pulses as part of the key ingredients in their staple food. In Nusa Tenggara Timur [ Eastern Nusa Tenggara] catemak corn is the traditional menu for staple food, which contains maize mixed with pulses.
Today, FAO Indonesia together with Sekolah Cikal Amri held “Science Fair International Year of Pulses 2016”. The fair presented Jiwon Rhee, from FAO Indonesia as guest speaker to explain about Pulses. Various science activities were conducted with the main theme on Pulses and their uses, such as hydroponics workshops, posters and cooking competition.
“At first, I realy confused, I didn’t know what it was about, and what the purpose was, but then after seeing the presentation, it became clearer to me. I think is really good, that they are bringing all this issue in this world and creating a solution to put a stop a lot of problems happening right now, such as world hunger. I want to eat more pulses” says Aisha, a 6th grader.
Key to Sustainable Development Goal [SDG 2] and Climate Smart Food
Security and nutrition have been established as a key international development objective under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
As 2016 is the first year of implementation of the Agenda, the IYP will also link the contribution of pulses to critical targets under SDG 2, particularly on food access, malnutrition, smallholder incomes, and sustainable and resilient agriculture. Introducing pulses into farm production can be key to increasing resilience to climate change. Agroforestry systems that include pulses such as pigeon peas grown at the same time as other crops, help sustain the food security of farmers, by helping them to diversify their sources of income.
Agroforestry systems are more able to withstand climate extremes as pulses are hardier than most crops and help to nourish the soil. Pulses are climate smart as they simultaneously adapt to climate change and contribute towards mitigating its effects. It is estimated that globally, some 190 million hectares of pulses contribute to five to seven million tonnes of nitrogen in soils. As pulses can fix their own nitrogen in the soil, they need less fertilizers, organic and synthetic, and in this way, they play a part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Pulses are good for you, beneficial to farmers' livelihoods and have a positive impact on the environment. They will play an important role for our sustainable future, “ states Jiwon Rhee.
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