By: Juanda Syah )*
The government continues to strive to accelerate the distribution of welfare and improve the quality of human resources throughout Indonesia through the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG). This program is a strategic step in addressing the problem of nutritional and economic inequality, especially in remote areas that have been difficult to reach by development programs. MBG is present not only as an initiative to meet the need for nutritious food, but also as an important momentum to strengthen local economic independence by increasing people’s food production activities.
Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, said that the MBG program is a concrete manifestation of the government’s commitment to building the nation by improving the quality of community nutrition. According to him, good nutritional intake is the main foundation in forming a smart, healthy, and highly competitive generation. For years, malnutrition has been one of the causes of low productivity and low thinking ability of the community. With the presence of MBG, the government wants to ensure that Indonesian children, including those living in remote areas, have equal rights to nutritious food and the opportunity to grow optimally.
Improving the quality of community nutrition will have a direct impact on the intelligence and competitiveness of the nation. Currently, the average level of intelligence of the Indonesian people is still at a level that needs to be improved. Through the massive implementation of the MBG (National Childhood Empowerment Program), the government is targeting significant improvements in the quality of national human resources. Children who receive balanced nutrition are expected to grow with strong physiques and strong intellectual abilities, thus becoming a key asset in realizing the Golden Indonesia 2045.
MBG is not only limited to providing nutritious food, but also a means to raise public awareness of the importance of planning family needs, including education and household finances. In various regions, many people still lack the ability to accurately calculate family needs. Through MBG socialization, the community is encouraged to understand the importance of healthy eating patterns as well as more rational economic planning. This approach reinforces the MBG’s goal as a program that not only addresses nutritional aspects but also empowers communities to be more independent and prosperous.
The MBG program targets 82.9 million beneficiaries by 2026. Its primary targets include schoolchildren, pregnant women, and toddlers across all regions, particularly those with high levels of nutritional vulnerability. The government is striving to ensure the program truly reaches remote communities through an effective and integrated distribution system. In its implementation, MBG also collaborates with local governments and small businesses in the food sector to stimulate local economic activity.
The program’s positive impact is beginning to be seen in various regions. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that from October to early November 2025, there was an increase in economic activity, contributing to a 0.28 percent increase in monthly inflation. This increase was due to increased demand for eggs and broiler chicken meat, the primary protein sources in the MBG program. This phenomenon indicates that the national distribution of nutritious food has driven increased consumption and economic activity, including in remote areas.
BPS Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics, Pudji Ismartini, stated that MBG plays a significant role in encouraging consumption of animal-based foods in various regions. Demand for broiler eggs and broiler chicken meat has increased significantly and is a major driver of inflation. Nevertheless, this is a positive sign that economic activity in the people’s food sector is growing. The increasing demand for food also opens up opportunities for livestock farmers and micro-entrepreneurs in rural areas to increase production and expand markets.
In addition to boosting food consumption, the MBG also has a ripple effect on the local economic supply chain. Rising prices for feed ingredients such as corn and the cost of producing live chickens are driving trade activity in various regions. Despite rising inflation, this movement reflects a more active economy and stronger purchasing power. The government continues to maintain a balance between increasing demand and price stability to ensure optimal benefits for all levels of society.
From a policy perspective, the MBG is designed as part of a broader national economic equity strategy. By involving local farmers, fishermen, and livestock farmers as primary food suppliers, the program strengthens food security while expanding business opportunities in rural areas. This approach is clear evidence that economic equality is not only achieved through social assistance but also through increasing community productivity. In remote areas, the implementation of the MBG has even become a new economic driver, creating jobs and increasing family incomes.
The implementation of the MBG program is also in line with the government’s vision of realizing a healthy and independent Indonesia. By improving nutrition from an early age, children in remote areas will have equal opportunities to grow into a smart and productive generation. Furthermore, the increased demand for local food products resulting from this program strengthens the economic resilience of rural communities and reduces dependence on supplies from outside the region. This dual impact makes the MBG a crucial momentum in accelerating economic equality while improving national nutritional quality.
This program demonstrates how food policy can be a catalyst for more inclusive development. When community nutrition is met and local economies are active, prosperity will be more evenly distributed throughout the country. With cross-ministerial coordination, local government support, and community participation, the MBG program is projected to become one of the most impactful programs in the history of national development.
Ultimately, the MBG program is not only a manifestation of public health concerns but also a concrete strategy to accelerate economic equality in remote areas. By improving nutritional intake, strengthening community purchasing power, and empowering the local economy, the MBG symbolizes Indonesia’s equitable progress. With solid collaboration between the government and all elements of the nation, the dream of realizing a healthy, independent, and prosperous society throughout the country is now increasingly becoming a reality.
)* The author is a Jakarta student living in Bandung