Jakarta – The Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG) continues to show encouraging results. The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, stated that the program has reached more than 38.5 million beneficiaries across Indonesia.
Dadan announced this achievement during a meeting with Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
“The Head of BGN stated that to date, the MBG program has reached 38,509,615 beneficiaries served by 13,514 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) or MBG kitchens,” the Cabinet Secretariat stated via its official social media account.
Dadan emphasized that food quality and safety supervision continues to be strengthened to ensure that the food provided meets nutritional and hygiene standards.
He also mentioned an increase in the provision of test kits and heating equipment in MBG kitchens to ensure the safety of the food.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya expressed his appreciation for the hard work of the National Development Planning Agency (BGN) and all parties involved.
He emphasized that the government will continue to make improvements so that the benefits of the MBG program are felt more widely and sustainably.
“The MBG program has a real impact on society, not only on beneficiaries, but also on the ecosystem within it, such as MSMEs, cooperatives, and Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes),” he said.
Teddy added that the government is committed to ensuring that every component of the nation benefits from the MBG, both in terms of public health and economic well-being at the grassroots level.
BGN targets the number of MBG program beneficiaries to increase to 82.9 million people by the end of 2025.
Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik S. Deyang, said this program is not only beneficial in the food sector but also absorbs a large number of workers.
“The free nutritious meal program can absorb up to 1.6 million direct workers and 2.5 million indirect workers,” she said.
He explained that one MBG kitchen can involve 10 to 15 suppliers, with each supplier employing 5 to 10 people.
“That means there are around 2.5 million workers, not including the growing industries,” he added.
Nanik also highlighted the emergence of new industries as a result of this program.
“Previously, Indonesia didn’t have any ompreng factories. Now, with the MBG program, around 35 industries have grown, including a truck body shop,” he said.
He emphasized that MBG not only provides nutritious food to schoolchildren but also stimulates the people’s economy.
