By: Alexandro Dimitri
The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program stands as a tangible symbol of the government’s presence in preparing a healthy, strong, and intelligent young generation for Indonesia. In the first year of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka‘s administration, the program has not only ensured that school children receive balanced nutrition, but also stimulated the people’s economy by empowering farmers, fishers, and MSMEs across the nation. MBG is not merely a populist policy — it is a strategic step toward building the foundation of a Golden Generation for Indonesia 2045.
President Prabowo has repeatedly emphasized that MBG is a long-term investment in the nation’s future. He believes that the quality of Indonesia’s human resources is largely determined by early nutritional intake. Hence, the government has taken bold action by making nutrition a top national priority, planned and executed systematically through public policy — not just ceremonial events or temporary aid. This perspective reflects the government’s serious commitment to breaking the cycle of stunting, strengthening food security, and fostering a globally competitive generation.
The MBG policy is accompanied by efforts to establish a more accountable and data-driven system. Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sony Sonjaya, stated that evaluations are being conducted on proposed MBG kitchen data to ensure the program is well-targeted and efficient. Adjustments to more than a thousand proposed kitchens are not reductions in commitment, but rather efforts to maintain service quality and prevent budget waste. This shows the government is acting not only swiftly but also precisely, ensuring that every rupiah spent delivers maximum benefit to the people.
In parallel, MBG has brought significant economic benefits to small business actors. Local food MSMEs, farmers, and livestock breeders have seen a stable surge in demand for raw materials. A new supply chain has been created, providing market certainty for local products. The program has indirectly fostered a healthy economic cycle, with the state acting as a demand aggregator, while the people are empowered as active economic agents. In this sense, MBG has evolved beyond a social program, becoming a driver of the grassroots economy.
From the legislative side, Indah Kurniawati, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), expressed her appreciation for the government’s approach in addressing basic public needs holistically. She sees MBG as a way to transform schools into not only centers of learning, but also effective public health intervention hubs. She also emphasized that the DPR will continue to oversee the expansion of this program without compromising service quality, as its success will be a key benchmark in realizing the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045. She highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration to solidify MBG as a strategic national policy.
The positive public response further strengthens the narrative of MBG’s success. Numerous media reports indicate that students are showing better concentration and school attendance after receiving regular nutritious meals. Parents feel supported, knowing that their children’s nutritional needs are being shared by the state through a measurable and sustainable scheme. On the ground, a spirit of mutual cooperation is evident in the involvement of local communities in managing MBG kitchens, fostering a collective sense of ownership over the program.
Recent reports from several regions show that local MSME participation has increased by up to 30 percent since the MBG program began. Entrepreneurs are more confident in developing their products, thanks to market certainty from MBG kitchens. This proves that a social program designed with an economic approach can generate multiplier effects for broader community welfare. The central government continues to affirm that the program’s sustainability will be supported by technological innovation, such as digitized data management and kitchen monitoring, to maintain transparency.
One year in, MBG continues to prove that the government’s vision goes beyond simply giving out aid — it is about building a system that nourishes the people while also strengthening the microeconomic foundation. This is how the state manifests its presence at the most basic level: ensuring no Indonesian child learns on an empty stomach, and no farmer produces without a market. Amid global challenges and economic shifts, this program is solid evidence that the state’s commitment to its people remains strong.
Considering these achievements, the public has good reason to be optimistic that MBG will become a milestone in the nation’s journey toward nutritional independence and food sovereignty. With synergy between the central and regional governments, the legislature, and the public, this program has the potential to become a globally recognized model for social-economic policy. The Prabowo-Gibran administration has shown that standing with the people is not just rhetoric — it is realized through concrete, measurable actions that directly impact millions of families across Indonesia.
*) The author is an Economic Analyst.