Assessment of Sustainable Food Diversification Development Model in West Java, Indonesia
E.Herman Khaeron, Yuyun Y.AS, Sudarjat, Tuhpawana P. Sendjaja
Abstract
Food diversification is often doubtful as population increases in a faster rate than food productivity. Not to
mention land transformation and environmental issues, which are hampering agriculture? Thus, food security
cannot be achieved by only relying on import and food diversification policies. There are many food
diversification policies that have been legalized and adopted in Indonesia. However, due to flaws in its
formulation and dissemination processes, most of them ended up in the desks. This article aims to assess a more
sustainable food diversification development model, which guarantees food security. The program’s performance,
dominant influencing elements, and models were analysed by using SEM. 500 respondents spread all over West
Java were interviewed in order to gain required information and data. The results showed that the level of food
diversification in West Java is considered high. Nevertheless, there are biases which were caused by food import
and diverse consumption behaviour. That said, production and distribution diversification based on local food is
getting feeble. Biases were also found in consumption behaviour, which is mixed between rice and flour. Whereas
for maize and tuber, although it has high production level, maize and tuber are mostly produced for animal feed
and raw material for bioenergy. Cultural value of local food production, distribution, and consumption is
diminishing both internally (from the society) and externally. A sustainable food diversification model is then
suggested to be based on democracy and community.
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