By: Khamdan Kurniaji )*
Indonesia is taking real steps to create a healthier and more prosperous generation through the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG). This program is not just a food provision initiative, but a comprehensive strategy to prevent stunting, improve community welfare, and strengthen the national economy.
The problem of stunting is still a major challenge that must be overcome to ensure a brighter future for Indonesian children. Malnutrition during growth is at risk of causing physical and cognitive development disorders that can impact the productivity of future generations. Therefore, MBG is present as a solution by ensuring that vulnerable groups, such as school children and pregnant women, get enough quality nutrition to support their optimal growth.
The government has allocated a budget of IDR 71 trillion for the initial stage in 2025, which is targeted to reach 15 million beneficiaries. However, the benefits of MBG are not limited to the nutritional aspect alone. This program is also expected to be able to open up employment opportunities for around 2.5 million people in various sectors, including culinary, food distribution, and agriculture. Thus, MBG not only helps improve the quality of public health, but also makes a significant contribution to the national economy.
To support the distribution of this program, the government has planned to build 5,000 public kitchens which will be expanded to 30,000 kitchens by 2027. This step aims to ensure that nutritious food can be distributed evenly to all levels of society in need. This infrastructure will also open up new job opportunities and accelerate the process of producing and distributing healthy food widely.
President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the success of MBG requires synergy between various sectors in supporting the government’s priority programs. He emphasized that MBG is not just about distributing food, but is part of a long-term strategy to improve the quality of human resources. By ensuring that every individual has access to good nutrition, Indonesia can produce a superior generation that is ready to face global challenges.
The Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Dadan Hindayana, also emphasized that this program does not only focus on providing free food, but also has a long-term impact on the health and productivity of the nation. By providing access to nutritious food widely, it is hoped that every Indonesian child can grow optimally and have a greater opportunity to achieve success in various fields.
The government’s commitment to accelerating the implementation of MBG is also reflected in the additional budget of IDR 100 trillion announced by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani in March 2025. This large investment aims to expand the scope of the program to cover more than a quarter of Indonesia’s population by the end of 2025. This step is in line with the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045 which targets the development of superior human resources as the foundation of national progress.
In addition to direct benefits for the community, this program also creates a positive domino effect for the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors. The increasing demand for high-quality food ingredients will encourage the growth of the local production sector, so that farmers, livestock breeders, and fishermen can gain greater profits. This also helps strengthen national food security and create a more independent and sustainable economic chain.
The implementation of MBG is also supported by policies that ensure the involvement of various parties, from local governments to small and medium business actors. With this collaboration-based approach, it is hoped that the program can run effectively and efficiently, so that its benefits can be felt by the wider community. This approach also ensures that the program remains transparent and accountable in its implementation.
On the other hand, the success of MBG is highly dependent on community awareness and participation in maintaining a healthy diet and utilizing this program properly. The community is expected to not only receive benefits from this program, but also be actively involved in supporting the distribution and management of nutritious food in their respective environments. Thus, the sustainability of the program can be more assured and its impact will be maximized.
On a broader scale, MBG is part of an effort to build a more robust health system in Indonesia. By reducing stunting rates and increasing community immunity from an early age, this program can reduce the burden on the health system in the long term. This will help create a more productive society and reduce dependence on health services due to malnutrition.
As a strategic step towards a better future, MBG not only reflects concern ian government towards public health, but also shows a commitment to building a smarter and more competitive generation. With this program, it is hoped that every individual, especially children, has the same opportunity to grow and develop optimally.
The success of the Free Nutritious Meal Program certainly requires support from all parties, including the wider community. Therefore, let’s together support and make this program a success so that it can provide real benefits for all Indonesian people. With solid cooperation, we can create a healthier, more prosperous generation that is ready to face future challenges. )* The author is a contributor to the Pertiwi Institute
