ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Indonesia is listed as one of the largest nuts producing countries in Asia. In 2018-2019, Indonesia contributed almost 8.5% of global nuts production.
FAO estimates that average global consumption of nuts per person will increase from 7 kg per year in 2022 to 8.6 kg per year in 2032.
“Even though they are small in size, we should not underestimate nuts. “This commodity has high nutritional content and extraordinary benefits for overcoming food insecurity and nutritional problems,” said Yurdi Yasmi, Director of the Plant Production and Protection Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on World Pulses Day which is celebrated on February 10 every year. This celebration at the global level was held in Lima, Peru.
Nuts are rich in soluble fiber, vitamins and minerals but low in fat, which can help lower cholesterol and control blood sugar. Nuts can also help prevent and reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Yurdi further said that “legumes are expected to become more popular in agriculture and for consumption and diet, because of their affordable price and benefits for health and the environment.”
Pulses are also key to more resilient agricultural systems. Apart from supporting soil fertility through nitrogen fixation with crop rotation, legumes can also help reverse land degradation. This plant can help overcome climate change, because it can adapt to extreme weather conditions, and can grow even in soil conditions lacking nutrients and minimal input (such as fertilizer, energy and special equipment).
Apart from that, nuts also increase carbon absorption in the soil and help break the natural cycle of pests and insects. As a cover crop or as part of an intercropping system, legumes can reduce soil erosion while increasing overall land productivity.
In Indonesia, nuts are certainly no stranger to the public. Beans have become a daily menu, such as tempeh, tofu and various local snacks. Nuts are even a component of the Expected Food Pattern Score which measures food quality and is an indicator of nutritional adequacy.
According to the National Development Planning Agency, Indonesia has more than 12,000 types of nuts, but only a small portion are widely consumed by the public. The richness of Indonesia’s food variety certainly should not be forgotten.
Some examples of local nuts that are highly nutritious but are sometimes forgotten are Tolo Nuts (Vigna unguiculata), which are usually found in foods such as krecek or urap. Other examples are Lamtoro (Leucaena leucocephala) and Komak Beans or Koro Beans (Lablab purpureus) which can be used as snacks, and can be processed into various types of Indonesian food menus. Various innovations are also being pursued to produce tempeh and tofu from local bean varieties as an alternative to soybeans.
“This rich variety of Indonesian nuts may often be forgotten in urban areas. But in rural areas, they are a source of protein and a source of daily income for many family farmers,” said Rajendra Aryal, Head of FAO Representative in Indonesia and Timor Leste.
He also emphasized the important role of family farmers in conserving biodiversity for food and agriculture. Therefore, efforts to support family farming to develop have always been the spirit of the partnership program between FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture.
“On this World Nuts Day, we invite the Indonesian people to celebrate the diversity of nuts in Indonesia. “Today and every day, let’s consume more local nuts that can be found around us,” said Rajendra. (AT Network)
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