By: Dhita Karuniawati )*
The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is a strategic initiative that is not only aimed at improving the nutritional quality and health of Indonesian children, but also has a broad impact on the national economy. This program was initiated as a concrete step by the government in overcoming the challenges of malnutrition, stunting, and social inequality in the education sector. MBG has become a driving force for the regional economy and a creator of new jobs.
In the broad framework of sustainable development, the MBG program is designed to answer two main challenges for the nation, namely improving the quality of human resources (HR) from an early age and driving the economy from the lowest level, including families and small business actors. By providing free nutritious meals to school students, the government can create a positive domino effect on the welfare of the wider community.
Providing free nutritious meals in schools is not just about food aid, but is a long-term investment in human development. Children who receive adequate nutrition have been shown to have better learning abilities, higher endurance, and increased school attendance rates. In the long term, this will create a healthier, smarter, and more productive generation.
The MBG program is also designed with an inclusive economic approach. The supply of nutritious food comes from local farmers, fishermen, livestock breeders, and food MSMEs. Thus, every rupiah allocated in this program will return to the community in the form of increased income and opening up business opportunities.
For example, to meet the need for quality vegetables, fruit, meat, and carbohydrates, schools can partner directly with farmer cooperatives or local farmer groups. This step has been proven to encourage national production and reduce dependence on imports.
The effect of the MBG program on job creation is very significant. This program not only creates jobs downstream such as food processing and distribution, but also in the upstream sectors such as agriculture, livestock, and fisheries.
With the increasing demand for quality food for millions of school children every day, farmers will be encouraged to increase their harvests and expand their cultivated land. Likewise, farmers will increase the production of eggs, milk, and meat, while fishermen will focus on catches that meet nutritional quality standards.
The entire supply chain, from raw material producers, food processors, logistics, to quality control, requires new workers. The government estimates that if the MBG program is implemented nationally and sustainably, the potential for job creation could reach hundreds of thousands, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas.
The MBG program, which has been running the government since January 6, 2025, has absorbed around 68 thousand workers in MBG kitchens or Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) throughout Indonesia. The majority of workers are housewives.
The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana said that more than 60 percent of the workforce absorbed in the MBG program are mothers aged 30 to 50 years. Most of them were previously housewives without a fixed income. Now, through this program, they earn a minimum income of IDR 2 million per month.
Dadan noted that since its launch on January 6, 2025, the MBG program has reached 4.97 million beneficiaries. The program has been running in all 38 provinces with a total of 1,785 active SPPGs.
Dadan also emphasized that all SPPG heads have now received regular payments every month. He emphasized that the payment system is now running smoothly and routinely in all regions. Currently, the financial management of the program is more orderly, with a system of disbursing funds to SPPGs through virtual accounts before operational activities begin. This is done so that partners do not need to wait for reimbursements and can immediately carry out operational activities.
In order for the MBG program to run optimally, synergy is needed between the central government and regional governments. The central government is responsible for policies, funding, and implementation standards, while regional governments have a key role in implementation in the field.
The heads of the education office, health office, and food security office in each region must work together to design a food provision scheme that involves the local community. Including in monitoring nutritional quality, training food business actors, and evaluating the impact of the program on school children. The government also actively involves community organizations, cooperatives, and vocational education institutions to expand the impact of MBG.
The MBG program is a real example that social policyl can be a strong economic stimulus. Not only does it eradicate children from the threat of malnutrition and improve the quality of education, MBG is also able to create a new economic ecosystem that is productive, inclusive, and sustainable.
With the government’s strong commitment to planning and involving the community as a whole, MBG has the potential to become a national flagship program that not only improves the quality of Indonesian human resources, but also accelerates economic growth from below. This is not just an aid program, but a long-term development strategy to realize a healthy, prosperous, and competitive Indonesia.
*) The author is a Contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute
