The MBG’s primary focus is on schoolchildren, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers (3B). Therefore, the role of teachers and the maturity of family support teams (TPK) in educating the community is crucial, not just distributing food.
The Minister of Population and Family Development, Wihaji, emphasized the importance of the TPK’s educational role in every aid distribution. The Minister encouraged the TPK to be more active in ensuring the success of the Free Nutritional Meals program, which targets pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers, as a strategic step to reduce stunting.
“The role of the TPK is crucial. They are not just delivering food, but also acting as agents of change, carrying out the major mission of saving the next generation from the threat of stunting,” said Wihaji during a working visit to monitor the Bangga Kencana Program and MBG 3B in remote areas and to launch the Simultaneous Family Planning Service in Lebak Regency, Banten, on Thursday (April 30, 2026).
The Minister further emphasized that MBG 3B is a strategic breakthrough that places Indonesia in a unique position globally. Of the dozens of countries with free nutritious meal programs, only Indonesia provides specific interventions for vulnerable groups at the most crucial stage of life.
“Currently, there are 77 countries with free nutritious meal programs for school children. However, only Indonesia specifically targets pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers through MBG 3B,” he explained.
Wihaji also emphasized the importance of the TPK’s educational role in every aid distribution. The opportunity for food distribution should be used to increase families’ understanding of nutrition and parenting.
“While distributing the MBG, provide education. Ensure that the recipients are pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. Don’t let the aid go untargeted,” he emphasized.
The family support team plays a central role in the success of the MBG program, especially in ensuring that strategic targets such as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers receive proper nutrition. This support is an integrated effort to prevent stunting at the family level.
The Central Executive Board of the Association of Entrepreneurs and Managers of the Indonesian Free Nutritional Meal Kitchens (DPP APPMBGI) strongly supports the success of the free nutritious meal program.
The General Chair of the DPP APPMBGI, Abdul Rivai Ras, emphasized that his organization supports the MBG program as one of the national priority programs of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.
“We are bringing the results of collective work from the Summit involving hundreds of MBG kitchen entrepreneurs from various regions. These recommendations are derived from the field, from the managers’ direct experience, and we believe they can provide constructive input for improving national policy,” said Abdul Rivai Ras at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs office in Jakarta.
He stated that the 2026 APPMBGI Summit produced a series of strategic recommendations directly related to strengthening the MBG program ecosystem from upstream to downstream. These recommendations encompass five main pillars.
First, strengthening governance and accountability systems for MBG implementation. Second, securing the food supply chain to make it more reliable, transparent, and based on local production. Third, improving food safety standards across all management kitchens.
Fourth, professional certification for nutrition supervisors to ensure the quality and integrity of the program.
“Finally, strengthening the supporting ecosystem in a sustainable manner, from institutional aspects and financing to information technology for program management,” he said.
The Free Nutritious Meal Program is a program for the people, and its success requires the active participation of all elements of society, including business actors and kitchen managers who work directly in the field.