Jakarta – The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program not only plays a role in improving community nutritional needs but also serves as a catalyst for village economic growth. The MBG program opens opportunities for farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, MSMEs, and Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) to participate in the provision of raw materials, thereby directly benefiting the community.
Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, stated that villages have significant potential to support the success of the MBG through the provision of sustainable local food. This potential is supported by more than 45,000 village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) operating in the food, agriculture, and maritime sectors.
“Currently, there are more than 45 thousand BUMDesas with businesses in the Thematic Village sector, namely food, agriculture, and maritime affairs,” he said.
According to Yandri, nearly 1,000 village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) have now become raw material suppliers for the MBG Program. This involvement demonstrates that the MBG implementation not only improves community access to nutritious food but also creates sustainable demand for village products, thus stimulating community economic activity.
“We thank the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries for their ongoing support of the Village Ministry program. Currently, nearly 1,000 Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) are supplying raw materials for the Free Nutritious Meals,” he said.
The government also continues to strengthen the MBG’s supporting ecosystem through the development of thematic villages and strengthening food security. The Village Fund allocation policy for the food sector is expected to further increase village capacity to meet the program’s raw material needs, while also creating space for the growth of productive businesses based on local potential.
Yandri hopes that more Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) and the Merah Putih Village Cooperative will become involved as suppliers of MBG through the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG). The stronger the food supply chain established from the village, the greater the economic impact, from increased absorption of local produce, the creation of new business opportunities, and increased community income.
With an ecosystem involving various village economic actors, MBG is not only an investment in creating a healthy and quality generation, but also a driver of economic growth that encourages village independence through strengthening local food production and sustainable community empowerment.