JAKARTA-The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program is considered capable of providing a broad impact, not only in terms of improving community nutrition, but also in encouraging national economic growth.
Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, said that the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) has great potential in opening up new market opportunities while encouraging consumption of domestic products.
“The Free Nutritious Meal Program plays a role in increasing market demand, creating new space for local products, and becoming the main buyer of domestic production,” said Dadan.
He added that the implementation of MBG will open up massive employment opportunities and create opportunities for food and beverage business actors. Dadan also assessed that the MBG Program can strengthen the domestic food production and distribution chain.
“The implementation of MBG is believed to have a beneficial chain effect on the economy, while increasing productivity in various regions,” he said.
He explained that the increase in entrepreneurial potential and economic turnover were the results of the implementation of the program. In addition, MBG is seen as a form of early government intervention in improving the standard of living of the community through the fulfillment of optimal nutrition in children.
“Optimal nutritional fulfillment at an early age will help children grow and develop optimally, which ultimately contributes to improving the quality of Indonesian human resources,” he said.
Since January 6, 2025, there have been 191 Nutrition Service Fulfillment Units (SPPG) that have been operating and serving around 3,000 beneficiaries at each point. Each unit receives an annual fund allocation of IDR 8 to IDR 10 billion, with 85 percent of the budget used to purchase raw materials, and 95 percent of these materials come from local agricultural products.
“A total of 32 thousand SPPGs are targeted to operate by the end of November 2025 to serve 82.9 million MBG recipients, with an estimated budget absorption of IDR 1 trillion every day,” he said.
In August 2025, as many as 7,000 SPPGs are targeted to be active with a budget of IDR 7 trillion per month. Then, in September 2025 it will serve 42 million MBG recipients with a budget absorption of IDR 14 trillion, and in October 2025 it will increase to 66 million recipients with funds of IDR 21 trillion per month.
With such a large scope and target, the MBG program is expected to be a policy that not only improves public health, but also strengthens the foundation of the national economy.
