Jakarta – The government reaffirms its commitment to maintaining the safety and quality of raw materials for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program. This step is part of a strategic effort to ensure the success of the program, which aims to improve public nutrition and support local economic growth.
The Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Budi Arie Setiadi, stated that 1,336 production cooperatives across Indonesia have been prepared to supply the MBG kitchen’s needs. These cooperatives will provide various food commodities such as rice, fish, eggs, chicken, vegetables, milk, meat, and fruits. All of these raw materials are guaranteed to come from domestic production, ensuring no dependency on imports.
“Production cooperatives throughout Indonesia are ready to supply the MBG kitchens with various commodities such as rice, fish, eggs, chicken, vegetables, milk, meat, and fruits,” he said.
In addition to cooperatives, the government is also involving more than 1,500 SMEs as suppliers for the MBG raw materials. Deputy Minister of SMEs, Helvi Moraza, explained that the involvement of SMEs not only enhances the nutritional welfare of the public but also provides a significant economic impact on small business owners. With a budget allocation of IDR 171 trillion and a target of 82.9 million beneficiaries, the MBG program opens vast opportunities for SMEs to grow.
At the regional level, the Provincial Government of Banten has prioritized the supply of food ingredients for the MBG needs. Governor Andra Soni of Banten stated that there will be 1,300 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) kitchens in the province, with 85% of the raw materials sourced locally. This move is expected to stimulate local economies and improve regional food security.
To ensure food safety, the National Food Agency (Bapanas) has strengthened its supervision of fresh food used in the MBG program. Bapanas Head, Arief Prasetyo Adi, emphasized that this measure aligns with the government’s efforts to improve access to quality food and nutrition to create a healthy, active, and productive generation, contributing to Indonesia’s Vision 2045.
The MBG program also has the support of the Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (Kemendesa PDT), which has allocated IDR 20 trillion from the Village Fund to supply raw materials for the program. Minister Yandri Susanto of Kemendesa PDT explained that Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) will maximize their role in preparing raw materials through the establishment of thematic villages such as rice villages, tilapia villages, egg villages, and corn villages.
With the synergy between the central and regional governments, cooperatives, SMEs, and BUMDes, the MBG program is expected to run smoothly and provide maximum benefits to the public. The government remains committed to ensuring that every step in the implementation of this program is carried out to the highest standards for the welfare of the Indonesian people.
