By: Kresna Aditya)*
The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto is a strategic step in responding to the challenges of community nutrition while simultaneously turning the wheels of the regional economy.
With a target of reaching 82 million beneficiaries within a year, this program not only aims to fulfill nutrition, but also carries a great mission of empowering villages, strengthening food security, and developing the people’s economy from below. To the public, the President expressed optimism that this success could be achieved through cross-sector cooperation, layered supervision, and a neat and disciplined distribution system.
Prabowo emphasized that this program is not a new experiment, but rather an adaptation of successful policies that have been implemented in other countries such as India, Brazil, and the United States. He saw that by channeling funds to local kitchens, livestock breeders, and farmers, money would circulate in the village and encourage prosperity.
The program is also a tool for economic democratization, where people at the grassroots also enjoy the benefits of development. However, he does not turn a blind eye to the challenges that arise, including the issue of food quality, such as the use of used cooking oil or eggs that are not fit for consumption.
Therefore, he ordered strict supervision from school principals, local officials, and the police so that the quality of food is truly maintained. He even said that he could detect deviations just from the appearance of the cooking oil or the type of eggs used, showing how seriously he monitored the implementation of this program.
The Head of State also highlighted the importance of management and discipline of the implementation team as the main key to success. He gave an example of food distribution for pregnant women in remote areas carried out through family planning counselors from the BKKBN, as a system that has proven effective. Amidst all the obstacles, he expressed appreciation to the National Nutrition Agency led by Dadan Hindayana for their hard work and dedication in facing the challenges of implementation in the field.
Concrete support for the MBG program is also clearly visible from the Central Java Provincial Government. Through the Decree of the Governor of Central Java Number 100.3.3.1/88 of 2025, a Working Group (Pokja) for the Acceleration of the Implementation of the MBG Program was formed, led directly by Deputy Governor Taj Yasin with Governor Ahmad Luthfi as an advisor.
The province is targeting to fulfill nutritional needs for more than 8 million beneficiaries, including students, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children with stunting.
Yasin said that currently Central Java is ranked second in the implementation of MBG nationally, and this is the result of hard work by many parties. However, he reminded that this is not enough and his party wants to ensure that no child goes to school hungry and no pregnant women are malnourished.
To reach this target, more than 120 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units with 89 MBG kitchens have been operating, but the ideal need requires more than 3,400 kitchens throughout Central Java.
The provincial government also opened up space for participation from various parties, including schools, Islamic boarding schools, and business actors. Yasin emphasized the importance of coordination as the key to the success of this program.
In addition to kitchen infrastructure, the Working Group also identified Forkopimda assets that could be used as MBG facilities and explored the potential for local food distribution. Collaboration with farmer cooperatives, farmers, livestock breeders, and BUMDes is the main strategy to create sustainable food security and at the same time encourage village independence.
He emphasized that the MBG program is not just about providing food, but about creating a healthy and strong future, starting from children who can study with full stomachs to villages that are food independent.
With the spirit of mutual cooperation, Yasin is optimistic that every spoonful of nutritious food will be a new foundation for the future of the nation.
Meanwhile, the East Kalimantan Provincial Government is also taking quick steps to accelerate the implementation of the MBG program. Deputy Governor of East Kalimantan Seno Aji said that this acceleration is a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto’s direction, especially because East Kalimantan is considered to be lagging behind other regions in implementing this program.
To overcome this, the East Kalimantan Provincial Government has begun preparations by preparing a foundation, Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit, and recruiting Indonesian Development Drivers as controllers at each implementation point. Seno Aji explained that all of these elements must be ready, and after the cooperation documents with the schools are signed, BGN will come to verify.
The overall implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals program requires integration of various elements from the center to the regions, starting from the president’s policy, the commitment of regional heads, to the active participation of village communities. Amidst geographical challenges and dependence on food from outside the region, the spirit of building local food security is an important foundation.
With systematic steps and inclusive strategies, this program holds great hope to form a healthy, intelligent, and prosperous generation. Now, it is time for all elements of the nation to unite and ensure that every Indonesian child can enjoy their right to nutritious food, as the best investment for the future of the country.
)* The author is a contributor to Jendela Baca Nusantara