Semarang – The Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) Program, initiated by the central government through the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), is not only a concrete effort to improve the nutrition of Indonesian children but also stimulates economic growth at the local level. Through the distribution of substantial funds and the utilization of resources from the surrounding community, this program has proven to have a dual impact: improving the health of the younger generation while sustainably driving the regional economy.
At the MBG Program Regional Consolidation Meeting held in Central Java and Yogyakarta Provinces, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Dadan Hindayana, revealed the substantial flow of funds from this program to the regions and how its use directly impacts the agriculture, livestock, and local industry sectors.
“One Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) will receive an average of around IDR 9 to 10 billion per year. If there are 3,200 SPPGs in Central Java, the total funds distributed will reach IDR 32 trillion per year. This far exceeds the Central Java Regional Budget of only around IDR 27 trillion,” said Dadan.
Eighty-five percent of the MBG funds are used to purchase food supplies from local farmers and businesses, such as rice, vegetables, fruit, and animal protein. Meanwhile, 10.5 percent is allocated to honorariums for SPPG (Food and Nutrition Program) implementers, creating new job opportunities in villages.
“One SPPG requires approximately five tons of rice per month, or the equivalent of harvesting two hectares of rice fields. Each year, 1.5 hectares of banana plantations, 32 biofloc catfish ponds for four months, 4,000 laying hens, and 18 hectares of corn for chicken feed are also needed. These are the economic aspects that will emerge from the Free Nutritious Meal program,” explained Dadan.
Domestic industry is also moving quickly to respond to the logistical needs of the MBG program. Kitchen equipment manufacturers in Semarang have recorded a three- to four-fold increase in turnover. Several automotive factories have even begun producing food trays for school meal distribution.
“Before the MBG program, there was no industry producing food trays. Now, there are 38 food tray entrepreneurs in Indonesia with a production capacity of 12.8 million trays per month, while our demand reaches 15 million food trays every month,” said Dadan.
Despite its broad impact, Dadan emphasized that food quality and safety must still be maintained.
“Our main goal is to create healthy, intelligent, and happy Indonesian children, not sick children,” he emphasized.
He encouraged all stakeholders to remain committed to improving the quality of the MBG program’s implementation so that its benefits can be felt more widely by the community.
The MBG program has proven itself as a strategic program that not only improves children’s nutrition but also acts as a catalyst for locally-based economic growth and encourages food self-sufficiency in various regions of Indonesia.
