Indonesian University Develops Home Gardens to Combat Stunting and Malnutrition

Lecturers from Universitas Siliwangi (Unsil) in Tasikmalaya, Indonesia, have launched an initiative to combat malnutrition and stunting by developing sustainable home gardens, known as Kawasan Rumah Pangan Lestari (KRPL), in the Kampung Cihonje area.

The program specifically targets families at risk of stunting, a condition caused by chronic malnutrition. It encourages residents to utilize their home yards for cultivating essential food sources, including laying hens, catfish, vegetables, and fruits. Kampung Cihonje was chosen due to its high stunting rates and limited access to nutritious food, particularly animal protein.

“

Based on this, the community service team developed an integrated KRPL concept that combines the cultivation of chickens, fish, vegetables, and fruits.

Led by Iseu Siti Aisyah, the Unsil team, with support from the BIMA Kemendiktisaintek grant, is providing comprehensive training. This includes guidance on raising chickens and catfish, cultivating various plants, and managing household organic waste to create alternative feed and fertilizer. Participants also learn food processing techniques, such as making nuggets and sausages from catfish.

The initiative aims to increase food availability at the household level, optimize the use of produce, and ultimately improve family nutrition. Early results show that the planted vegetables are ready for harvest, and the laying hens are beginning to produce eggs. This is expected to reduce household expenses on food and contribute to the national goal of reducing stunting prevalence to below 14 percent.

“

The stunting-risk families are starting to feel the benefits from the produce, such as vegetables and eggs that can be consumed daily.