By Dirandra Falguni
President Prabowo Subianto is committed to making the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program one of his administration’s top priorities. In addition to improving the nutrition of Indonesian children, this program is also expected to significantly drive economic growth. With an increasing budget allocation, MBG aims not only to reduce stunting rates but also to positively impact the agriculture, livestock, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sectors.
The Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and Energy, Hashim S. Djojohadikusumo, emphasized that Prabowo’s administration will continue to inject a substantial budget to ensure the success of the MBG Program. Hashim revealed that increasing MBG’s budget to IDR 171 trillion will boost economic growth to 1.99% from the previous 0.83%. With this projection, Prabowo is optimistic that the national economic growth target of 8% can be achieved.
To effectively implement this program, Prabowo’s administration will optimize budget efficiency by cutting allocations for programs deemed less supportive of economic growth. According to Hashim, the government has saved IDR 306 trillion through budget reallocation to priority programs like MBG. Additionally, the demand for food supplies for MBG—such as 80 million eggs, vegetables, and meat daily—is expected to act as a catalyst for economic growth in the agriculture and livestock sectors.
The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, explained that to accelerate MBG distribution, an additional budget of approximately IDR 25 trillion per month will be needed in 2025. Currently, BGN has secured a budget of IDR 71 trillion, but with the distribution acceleration instructed by President Prabowo, an increase of up to IDR 100 trillion is necessary. If this acceleration begins in September 2025, the total required budget will be even greater.
The MBG Program has received appreciation from Pemuda Muhammadiyah. The Chairman of Pemuda Muhammadiyah North Maluku, Muhammad Fadly, stated that MBG is an excellent program as it contributes to improving public nutrition and health. The organization is also involved in educating youth and students about the importance of MBG.
In North Maluku, MBG has been implemented in Ternate City and West Halmahera Regency, involving six public kitchens—four in Ternate City and two in West Halmahera. The program provides over 3,400 nutritious meals daily for the community.
Fadly hopes that MBG will not only improve public health but also create opportunities for youth to participate directly in the distribution process. With proper guidance, young people can help ensure smooth MBG implementation while gaining work experience in the logistics and food distribution sectors. Additionally, he encourages local governments to view MBG as an opportunity to revitalize the agriculture, MSME, and local economic sectors.
An academic from the Faculty of Agriculture at Brawijaya University, Dr. Mofit Jamroni, believes that MBG significantly impacts farmers’ welfare. Through this program, agricultural products can be optimally absorbed by the government as raw materials for free nutritious meals.
MBG creates price stability for farmers, as the government becomes the primary buyer of agricultural and livestock products. This aligns with the Regional Food and Nutrition Action Plan (RAD-PG), which has already been implemented in various regions, including Malang City. With market certainty, farmers no longer need to worry about price fluctuations that often disadvantage them.
Mofit also emphasized the importance of periodic evaluations to refine MBG’s technical implementation so that more farmers can benefit. He further noted that programs like MBG reinforce the importance of a healthy diet, reminiscent of the Empat Sehat Lima Sempurna (Four Healthy, Five Perfect) nutrition concept from the past.
Support for MBG also comes from the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII) in Malang City. The Chairman of PC PMII Malang, Dicky Wahyu Firmansyah, stated that the program has been running well in several schools in Bululawang and Kepanjen, Malang Regency. However, he hopes the MBG coverage can be expanded so that more students can benefit.
The Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) of Balikpapan City has also reaffirmed its support for MBG. The Deputy Chairman of DPRD Balikpapan, Muhammad Taqwa, stated that this program is a top priority for President Prabowo and has already been implemented in the City of Oil (Kota Minyak). Currently, MBG in Balikpapan is served by two public kitchens supplying food to various schools.
DPRD Balikpapan is committed to ensuring the sustainability of this program so that its benefits can be widely felt by the community. One of the efforts undertaken is budget reallocation, including a 50% reduction in official travel expenses, to ensure sufficient funding for MBG.
MBG has become one of President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programs to improve public nutrition while also stimulating economic growth. With significant budget increases, MBG not only provides direct benefits to Indonesian children but also strengthens the agriculture, livestock, and MSME sectors.
Support from various parties—including youth organizations, academics, and DPRDs across different regions—demonstrates that this program has broad and positive impacts. With strict oversight and continuous evaluation, MBG is expected to become a cornerstone in realizing Indonesia Emas 2045 (Golden Indonesia 2045).
The author is a contributor to Beritakapuas.com.
