Government Continues to Promote the Free Nutrition Program to Improve Child Nutrition and Regional Economic Growth
By: Bara Winatha*)
The Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) Program, initiated by the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, continues to demonstrate positive impacts in various regions. Not only does this program strengthen community nutritional security, it has also proven to be a driver of the local economy by involving thousands of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the food supply chain. Across the country, and even receiving recognition at international forums such as UNCTAD 16 in Geneva, the MBG program has become a symbol of Indonesia’s success in integrating social policies and sustainable economic development.
Putri Sari, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), stated that the MBG program represents a concrete step by the government to raise public awareness about the importance of balanced nutrition for children as the nation’s future generation. The program’s success is measured not only by the number of beneficiaries, but also by the extent of community participation in supporting its implementation. During outreach activities in Karawang Regency, Putih emphasized the need for active community participation to ensure the program’s sustainability, from monitoring to direct involvement in the MBG kitchen activities in schools.
MBG is a concrete manifestation of the synergy between social policy and local economic empowerment. By involving MSMEs and the surrounding community in food procurement, MBG has opened up new opportunities for improving the welfare of local communities. The success of MBG depends heavily on community participation and cross-sectoral coordination between the central and regional governments, and educational institutions. In this way, children not only receive nutritious food, but the community also derives tangible economic benefits from food production and distribution.
Putih Sari’s statement aligns with the facts on the ground experienced directly by MSMEs. One such example is Yulida Khomisah, a tempeh entrepreneur in Gunungsitoli City, Nias. She said that since the MBG program was implemented, her family’s income has increased because her tempeh production house has become one of the food ingredient suppliers for the MBG kitchen. She and her husband now regularly supply large quantities of tempeh, enough for thousands of servings each week. Yulida acknowledged that the MBG program has brought a breath of fresh air to local MSMEs by opening a new, stable, and long-term supply chain.
As a business owner who has directly experienced the impact of the MBG, Yulida believes that this program is not just an effort to fulfill nutritional needs, but also an economic catalyst for small communities. The MBG program involves many parties, from farmers and market vendors to local transportation services that deliver food to the MBG kitchens. All levels of economic actors experience the new economic cycle that arises from the program’s routine needs. The government’s move to partner with local communities in the program’s implementation is clear evidence that the MBG program is not only about health but also about regional economic independence.
Meanwhile, at the international level, support for the MBG program has also come from various global institutions. At the Sixteenth Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD 16), held in Geneva in October 2025, Indonesia received praise for its successful implementation of the MBG, a clear example of integrated social policy with economic development. Febrian Ruddyard, Deputy Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/Deputy Head of Bappenas, stated that the MBG represents a concrete example of the integration of social, trade, and economic development policies that are inclusive and sustainable.
Febrian explained that the MBG demonstrates how trade policies can support community welfare, not just drive economic growth. Through a demand-driven approach, this program creates structured demand for local food products—from agricultural and livestock products to fisheries. This model strengthens the local supply chain while empowering small businesses to be more competitive and productive. Thus, the MBG not only provides social benefits in the form of nutritional fulfillment but also creates a multiplier effect in other economic sectors.
In his presentation at the UNCTAD forum, Febrian emphasized that the demand-driven approach implemented in the MBG can serve as a model for other developing countries. He stated that this policy demonstrates how a national development strategy can prioritize people as the center of growth. By increasing demand for local food, the government not only strengthens nutritional security but also expands employment opportunities and narrows economic disparities between regions.
This initiative has received support fromThe delegates from international organizations in attendance, including representatives from the World Economic Forum (WEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement (SUN Movement), considered the Indonesian MBG program a successful example of how social policies can coexist with economic and trade-justice goals. MBG is considered a public policy innovation that not only provides nutritious meals to schoolchildren but also builds a resilient regional economy.
The economic impact of the MBG program is also beginning to be felt widely in various regions of Indonesia. According to data from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), by October 2025, the program had reached more than 36 million beneficiaries across Indonesia, including preschool-aged children, elementary and high school students, as well as pregnant women and toddlers. More than 12,500 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) are now operating in various regions as community kitchens, processing and distributing nutritious food daily. Thousands of local workers are employed in this activity, from cooks and distribution staff to administrative staff. This program has truly had a domino effect on the economy of small communities.
*)The author is a social and community observer.
