By: Septi Nur Aini )*
The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) carried out by the Prabowo era government is not just a populist policy, but can be a new driving force for the national economy and the business world. Behind the noble idea of reducing stunting rates and improving the quality of human resources, there is hidden great potential that can drive the upstream-downstream sectors, create jobs, and revive the business world – from farmers, ranchers, fishermen, to MSMEs.
The idea is simple but has a wide impact. If examined further, this program will require a large and sustainable supply of food, ranging from eggs, chicken, fish, vegetables, rice, fruit, to other processed products. This means that the need for agricultural, fishery, and livestock products will increase significantly.
This condition gives a positive signal to farmers and fishermen who have often had difficulty getting a steady market at a reasonable price. When this program is run with a partnership scheme involving cooperatives, BUMDes, and local business actors, there will be a healthy domino effect such as increased production, smooth distribution, and increased village community income. This program will naturally turn the wheels of the economy from below.
Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana revealed that the MBG program has a positive impact on the Indonesian culinary industry. In addition to future investment through fulfilling children’s nutrition, it also saves bankrupt restaurant businesses. He explained that the MBG program requires assistance from partners as a food supply that will be distributed to beneficiaries. So that a number of restaurants and catering in the regions are also involved.
In addition, the business world in the processing sector will also get a boost. The need for healthy and practical food for distribution to schools opens up opportunities for small and medium food processing industries to grow. MSMEs in catering, packaging industry, food logistics transportation, to agritech and foodtech startups have great potential to enter and play a role in the ecosystem of this program.
In fact, supporting industries such as animal feed producers, agricultural equipment, and industrial-scale kitchen equipment producers will also be positively impacted by the increasing demand. This is called the multiplier effect. The free nutritious meal policy, which seems simple on the surface, can actually be a trigger for the growth of strategic sectors that have been stagnant.
Deputy Governor of Central Java, Taj Yasin said, the Central Java Provincial Government formed a Working Group (Pokja) for the Acceleration of the Implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG). In addition to being a national program, this program can also open up many new jobs. Every food supply chain from production, distribution, to serving requires human labor. Workers in the agricultural and livestock sectors will increase, food logistics drivers will be needed more, to chefs and local kitchen workers who will prepare food for thousands of students every day.
If managed properly, this program can even revive community-based public kitchens and cooperatives. This will empower housewives, women’s groups, and villagers who have cooking skills to be directly involved in implementing the program. So it is not surprising that this program is not just about free food, but also about empowering the community as a whole.
Of course, there are challenges in implementation: from equitable distribution, monitoring food quality, to transparent budget management. However, these challenges can be overcome if the program is managed collaboratively. The central government can be the policy director, while implementation is handed over to the regions, cooperatives, and local communities who better understand the context of their respective regions.
Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas, Rachmat Pambudy said that MBG is a strategic initiative that is relevant to achieving the Trident of National Development 2029, namely economic growth, poverty alleviation, and development of quality human resources. In addition, this step is a concrete commitment to realizing food security and improving the nutritional quality of the Indonesian people.
Globally, this program can also be a new attraction in Indonesia’s social diplomacy. When many countries focus on providing direct benefits, Indonesia can be different by emphasizing healthy food-based interventions. If successful, this model can be replicated in other countries and make Indonesia a pioneer in the global movement to fulfill children’s nutrition.
Therefore, MBG is not just a social program, but a potential for extraordinary economic stimulus. This is a real form of state investment in the future of the younger generation, as well as a driver of the people’s economy from villages to cities. The government and the business world need to view this program as a strategic opportunity, not a budget burden. Because when the stomach is full and the body is healthy, productivity increases and from there, the economy will move forward.
)*The author is an economic observer
