Prevalence of Inadequate Food Consumption in Batu Bara Increased by 1.4% in the Last Year

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reports that the prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) in Batu Bara Regency, North Sumatra, reached 8.44% in 2023.

This figure is up 1.4% from the previous year's 7.04%, and up 2.34% over the past five years.

The average PoU in Indonesia was 8.53% in 2023. This means that the PoU in Batu Bara Regency is lower than the national average.

The National Food Agency (Bapanas) defines PoU as a condition where a person regularly consumes an insufficient amount of food to meet the energy needs for a normal, active, and healthy life. This indicator can be used as a tool to assess food and nutrition insecurity.

This means that the percentage of residents in Batu Bara Regency who consume food but lack sufficient energy needs does not reach 8.44% of the total population.

Compared to 32 other regencies/cities in North Sumatra Province, Batu Bara Regency's PoU ranks 20th. The regency with the lowest PoU (highest ranking) is Padang Lawas Regency (5.26%), and the highest (lowest ranking) is Nias Selatan Regency (13.45%).

The following is a list of the 10 regencies/cities in North Sumatra Province with the lowest PoU in 2023:

1. Padang Lawas Regency: 5.26%
2. Pakpak Bharat Regency: 5.26%
3. South Labuhan Batu Regency: 5.33%
4. Karo Regency: 5.42%
5. Humbang Hasundutan Regency: 5.82%
6. North Padang Lawas Regency: 6.09%
7. Samosir Regency: 6.31%
8. Toba Samosir Regency: 6.91%
9. Central Tapanuli Regency: 6.99%
10. North Tapanuli Regency: 7.05%