By: Andika Pratama
The Makanan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program launched by the government is one of the strategic initiatives aimed at empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) while simultaneously improving the welfare of the community. By partnering with MSMEs as key collaborators, this program not only ensures that the public has access to nutritious food but also creates a significant positive impact on the local economy.
In its launch, the government involved various community elements and institutions, including local MSMEs, which play a central role in providing raw materials and distributing food. The Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, stated that this program is designed to address the nutritional needs of the population while encouraging economic growth through the empowerment of MSMEs. With its simultaneous implementation across 26 provinces and involvement of hundreds of distribution points, the MBG program is a concrete step by the government in building a strong and sustainable MSME ecosystem.
The MBG program provides great opportunities for MSME actors to expand their market reach and increase production capacity. Nosri Sahibi, the head of the Muhammadiyah DKI Jakarta MSME Development Institute, revealed that MSME participation in this program has created a dynamic economic movement. From providing raw materials to serving cooked meals, MSME actors have direct access to a wider market, which ultimately strengthens their competitiveness. Nosri also emphasized that this program is not only about providing nutritious food but also creating an extraordinary domino effect on the local economy.
In Lampung Province, the MBG program has received full support from the local government. Samsurizal, Head of the Cooperatives and MSMEs Office of Lampung Province, stressed that the program has become a new hope for MSME actors in the region. By utilizing local potentials such as agricultural, livestock, and fisheries commodities, MSMEs in Lampung are able to produce high-quality products that meet the needs of the MBG program. This collaboration creates synergy between business actors, the government, and the community to strengthen food security based on local resources.
The success of the MBG program is inseparable from the support of various parties, including security forces and local governments. The involvement of the TNI-Polri in ensuring the smooth distribution of food is a tangible example of solid cross-sector collaboration. In the field, security personnel play an essential role in maintaining logistics, ensuring that the program reaches communities in various regions, including remote areas.
One key aspect of this program is sustainability. The government has taken strategic steps to ensure that the supply of raw materials remains stable and efficient. By involving MSMEs as the main suppliers of raw materials, this program creates an ecosystem that supports local production and meets community needs. Additionally, periodic evaluations of the program’s implementation are an essential part of ensuring that this initiative continues to provide maximum benefits for all parties involved.
The MBG program also serves as a solution for communities struggling to access nutritious food. With its widespread distribution across all regions, the program helps reduce food access disparities in Indonesia. Moreover, the active participation of the community in this program fosters a strong sense of ownership, supporting the program’s long-term sustainability.
The positive impact of this program is not only felt by the beneficiaries but also by the MSMEs involved. For example, MSMEs that previously only served the local market now have the opportunity to expand their networks and increase production capacity. This aligns with the government’s vision of making MSMEs a key pillar in the national economy.
Furthermore, this program also educates the public on the importance of consuming nutritious food. With specially designed menus, the public is encouraged to understand that a healthy diet can enhance productivity and quality of life. This effort is a strategic step toward creating a healthier and more competitive generation in the future.
For local governments, this program serves as a momentum to empower local potentials that have long been underutilized. By involving MSME actors in rural areas, local governments can enhance regional economic capacity while addressing social issues such as unemployment. The MBG program also has a long-term impact by creating new business opportunities for people who want to participate in the program’s ecosystem.
Not only that, but this program also serves as a platform to strengthen collaboration between the government, the private sector, and civil society. In a broader context, MBG creates a platform for sharing responsibility in improving the welfare of the community. With this inclusive approach, all parties can contribute according to their respective capacities, allowing the benefits of the program to be felt by a larger group of people.
Overall, the MBG program reflects the government’s commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable development. By involving various parties, including MSMEs, local governments, and the community, this program becomes a model of success in creating cross-sector synergy. Moving forward, it is hoped that the MBG program will not only provide direct benefits to the community but also lay the foundation for strengthening local and national economies. The government must also continue to innovate to ensure that this program can reach more regions and provide broader benefits. In this way, the MBG program becomes a tangible example that empowering MSMEs can go hand in hand with efforts to improve community welfare.
)* The author is a contributor to Jabbartrigger.com
