UNU Jogja’s Halal Industry Faculty and Pusdeka Host Public Seminar, Encourage Students to Actively Combat Stunting with BKKBN DI. Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – In May 2025, the Indonesian Ministry of Health, through the Health Development Policy Agency (BKPK), announced that the results of the 2024 Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI) showed a stunting prevalence of 19.8%. This figure is 0.3 percentage points lower than the target prevalence set for 2024, which was 20.1%.

In line with this national context, during the seminar titled 'Building a Stunting-Free Golden Generation from an Early Age: The Role of Family and Campus,' organized by the Faculty of Halal Industry and the Center for Population Studies and Family Welfare (Pusdeka) at UNU Jogja, the Head of BKKBN Yogyakarta, Mohamad Iqbal Apriansyah, S.H., M.PH, presented regional data. He revealed that the highest stunting prevalence in DI. Yogyakarta is located in Gunung Kidul Regency, followed by Kulon Progo, Sleman, Bantul, and Yogyakarta City.

“The prevalence rate in Gunung Kidul reached 19.7 percent, Kulon Progo reached 18.0 percent, Sleman reached 17.3 percent, Bantul reached 16.5 percent, and Yogyakarta City reached 14.9 percent,” he elaborated on Thursday (30/10).

Meanwhile, the number of families at risk of stunting in DI. Yogyakarta reached 76,158, spread across four Regencies and one City. “This figure is a serious problem that we must address together to welcome the Golden Indonesia in 2045. To achieve this target, we must cooperate, including the government with educational institutions as well as the private sector,” he explained.

He clarified that their efforts have involved the role of academics, particularly lecturers and students, to actively participate in socializing stunting prevention within the community. “For instance, in the Student Community Service (KKN) programs usually held by universities in various regions in Yogyakarta, we incorporate the concept of stunting prevention for the community through the students,” he stated.

In agreement with this initiative, Andra Tersiana, a Lecturer from the Agricultural Product Technology Study Program at UNU Jogja, affirmed that the UNU Jogja Faculty of Halal Industry has a serious commitment to actively engage in this issue. “We have three study programs closely related to this issue: Agribusiness, Agricultural Product Technology, and Pharmacy. These programs have serious ideas for contributing to the resolution of stunting in DI. Yogyakarta and also in the students' hometowns,” she explained.

He expressed hope that through this seminar, students can discover their self-potential and optimally carry out their role in welcoming a resilient golden generation. Furthermore, he also encouraged academics to collaborate in developing local food-based products that contribute to stunting prevention efforts.

The Director of Pusdeka UNU Jogja, Rindang Farihah, added that Pusdeka UNU Jogja is also active in expanding the knowledge and preparedness of students as young agents to participate in solving the stunting issue. “One of our efforts is to open discussion spaces, both in large and small forums, to discuss this issue. We have also deployed the best student candidates to engage directly with the community,” she revealed. [Latifah]