Economic Stimulus Through Free Nutritious Meal Program Appreciated by the Public

By: Dirandra Falguni )*

The “Free Nutritious Meal” (MBG) program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto has received much appreciation from the public, academics, and economic observers. The program, which was launched in early January 2025, not only aims to improve public nutrition, but also provides significant economic stimulus, especially in the areas where it is implemented.

Researcher from the Center of Reform on Economic (CORE) Indonesia, Eliza Mardian, revealed that the MBG program has a multiplier effect that can create new jobs and open up new market shares. The establishment of healthy kitchens through the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) drives the regional economy by utilizing local ingredients and involving workers from the local community.

Utilizing local kitchens, such as school kitchens or those owned by MSMEs, can save budget and reduce distribution costs. With kitchen locations close to educational facilities, operational efficiency can be increased, so that more local workers are absorbed. This model provides a great opportunity for local communities to be directly involved in national programs.

The MBG program designed by the government has started at 190 service points in 26 provinces, including Aceh, Central Java, Bali, and Papua. The Head of the Indonesian Presidential Communications Office, Hasan Nasbi, said that the target of 937 MBG kitchens will be achieved by the end of January 2025, with a long-term plan to reach 5,000 kitchens by the end of 2025. This program is targeted to reach 20 million beneficiaries, ranging from school children to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that this program is not just a step to meet nutritional needs, but also an investment for the future of Indonesia Emas 2045. Every Indonesian child has the right to access nutritious food. This program is a concrete effort to create a superior generation that is healthy and highly competitive.

Another impact of this program is increasing student participation in schools. According to research in countries such as India and Latin America, providing free nutritious food for students has been shown to increase learning concentration and reduce dropout rates. In Indonesia, something similar is expected to happen, especially in remote areas.

In terms of health, MBG contributes to reducing stunting and malnutrition rates. This target is in line with the government’s mission to accelerate the development of superior human resources by improving the quality of community nutrition.

HSBC in its economic projections for 2025 stated that Indonesia’s economic growth is estimated to reach 5.1 percent. Although it has not reached the ambitious target of 8 percent, programs such as MBG are believed to be able to provide a strong foundation for sustainable economic growth. Chief India and Indonesia Economist HSBC Global Research, Pranjul Bhandari highlighted that policies such as MBG can create new jobs and strengthen the domestic economy through a hyper-local approach.

This method, which involves local food production and distribution, can reduce logistics costs while increasing the productivity of communities around the program location. If implemented properly, MBG can have a positive impact on economic growth in the medium term.

One of the main strengths of the MBG program is the involvement of MSMEs, farmers, and fishermen in the food supply chain. The government ensures that the ingredients used in this program come from local products. Thus, this program also contributes to strengthening national food security.

KB Valbury Sekuritas senior economist, Fikri C. Permana, assessed that the government’s move to involve the agriculture and fisheries sectors in the MBG program is a strategic policy. “In addition to supporting industrial downstreaming, this program also encourages innovation in the agriculture and fisheries sectors which have the potential to become new export pillars.

With a budget allocation of IDR 71 trillion, the government shows its commitment to the success of the MBG program. Each SPPG consisting of a coordinator, nutritionist, and accountant is tasked with ensuring that food distribution runs smoothly. This not only increases program efficiency but also ensures that beneficiaries receive nutritious food according to the Nutritional Adequacy Rate (AKG) standards.

The launch of the MBG program in less than 100 days since the inauguration of President Prabowo-Gibran reflects the government’s rapid steps in implementing the vision of developing superior human resources.