Abstract:
Local food plays an important role in maintaining people’s food security. Food security supports social, economic and political securities, as well as national security. Access to local food is determined by its usage, distribution and marketing.
The research was conducted in April-May 2013 at the Mayambouw, Warmare and North Manokwari Districts. The North Manokwari district was located in the coastal area. The objectives of the research were to study the usage, distribution and marketing aspects of local food, i.e. sweet potato and cassava; the producers/farmers; as well as to discuss how the development and marketing policy of local food should be directed as an effort to increase the added value of farmers’ income.
The results of the research show that 60.48% of sweet potato in Myambouw District was consumed, while in Warmare and coastal areas was 82.33% and 79.45% of the produces were respectively sold. Both in Myambouw and Warmare, sweet potato was not used as pig feed. In Myambouw, cassava was mostly marketed (43.33%), while in Warmare 40.55% and coastal area 72.28% of the cassava was sold respectively. The marketing of Warmare’s sweet potato and cassava was more efficient (257.48%) than of the coastal area (150.30%) and of Myambouw (97.25%).
The direction for development of local food policy should be in line with the production strategy, distribution, and promotion, while local food regulation should be directed toward the following aspects: coordination, availability, marketing, consumption and community empowerment.
