Jayapura- The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is a solution to overcome children’s nutritional problems while having a major impact on boosting the local economy, especially in Papua. In Jayapura Regency, the implementation of this program has touched various strategic sectors that have been the mainstay of people’s lives, such as agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Head of the Jayapura Regency PKK Team, Dewi S Wonda, assessed that MBG is a cross-sector program that is able to integrate efforts to improve community nutrition with increasing community income. She emphasized the importance of food ingredients for MBG nutrition kitchens sourced from local production.
“If the kitchen is there, then food ingredients must also be available. Well, those ingredients must come from the local community so that their economy can grow,” he said.
According to Dewi, the Jayapura Regency Government also encourages the strengthening of the agricultural and fisheries sectors as the main pillars of MBG’s kitchen needs. Thus, the community is not only a beneficiary, but also part of the main actors in the implementation of this program. This is in line with MBG’s main goal, namely to form a healthy, intelligent, productive generation of Indonesia, while strengthening the economic resilience of families.
Furthermore, the MBG program opens up new job opportunities in villages, from farmers who supply food ingredients, kitchen managers, to food distributors. The local economic turnover has also increased, because the funds circulating from this program are directly absorbed by the local community. Food independence, which has been a challenge in Papua, is slowly starting to be answered through an approach that is rooted in local needs and potential.
The Head of the Papua Regional Catholic Youth, Melianus Asso, also welcomed the MBG policy positively. He considered that the existence of this program was very helpful for children in the interior of Papua who had been vulnerable to malnutrition. He also highlighted the importance of active community involvement in the implementation of the program so as not to cause misunderstandings.
“We see that the MBG program has received rejection from several groups. So there needs to be direct socialization so that the public understands its great benefits,” he said.
The MBG program is a real example that government policies designed with a holistic approach and actively involving local communities can provide a double impact. Not only does it make the next generation healthy, but it also boosts the economy of grassroots communities. With cross-sector collaboration and full support from all regional elements, Papua is moving towards a healthier, more independent, and more prosperous future. [^]
