REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG -- West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno led the commemoration of the 34th World Food Day at the Provincial Food Security Board here Thursday.

"The question of food is not only the concern of the local people but the world community as well, along with the rising global population," he said.

"We must be serious about handling the issue of food as a food crisis may threaten national stability," he warned.

The government, through the Food Security Board, has begun implementing concrete programs to maintain national food security by diversifying foods, among others, he stated.

"This means that the people have been encouraged not only to consume rice as the main foodstuff but also replace it with other carbohydrate sources such as tubers," he said.

Hopefully, per capita consumption of rice in West Sumatra which now reaches 80 kilograms a year can be reduced in stages to 50 kilograms a year, he said.

"We can achieve the target if we work hand in hand," he noted.

With the current rice production and declining rice consumption as a result of the food diversification program, food supplies can be maintained, he added.

To enliven the 34th World Food Day commemoration, the event's organizing committee held several contests including non-rice, local food-based menu contests, ornamental plant contest, exhibition and a bazaar.

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