MBG Program Provides Long-Term Benefits for the Younger Generation
By: Nur Amalia Nareswara*)
The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) initiated by the government is a strategic step in improving the quality of Indonesia’s human resources. This program aims to ensure that the younger generation gets sufficient nutritional intake, so that they can grow up healthy, smart, and productive. Although its impact cannot be felt instantly, the MBG program has great long-term benefits for the welfare and progress of the nation.
Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, said that the MBG program is an investment for Indonesia’s future. According to him, this program is designed to reach up to 82 million beneficiaries by 2025, if the government receives an additional budget of IDR 140 trillion. He emphasized that fulfilling children’s nutrition is a crucial step in building a superior generation that is able to face global challenges in the future. The government, he continued, will continue to evaluate the implementation of this program so that nutritional standards and presentation can run optimally.
Meanwhile, the Minister’s Expert Staff for Social Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Pungkas Bahjuri Ali, said that the MBG program requires continuity so that its impact can be felt by future generations. He emphasized that other countries have proven the effectiveness of nutritious school meal programs in the long term. Japan, for example, has been running a lunch program for kindergarten to junior high school students for almost 150 years, while Finland has implemented a similar program for more than 40 years. He also highlighted that MBG could be an effective solution in overcoming the problems of stunting and malnutrition which are still challenges in Indonesia.
On the other hand, a nutrition expert from the University of Indonesia, Tri Wahyu Hartadi, said that healthy eating habits must be formed from an early age so that they can become a sustainable lifestyle. He said that providing nutritious food regularly will build good habits for children in consuming healthy foods, which ultimately has an impact on improving the quality of national health. He also highlighted that the success of the MBG program depends on strong regulations and support from various sectors, including MSMEs and the local food supply chain, so that this program can run sustainably.
In addition to the direct benefits in fulfilling children’s nutrition, the MBG program also has a significant economic impact. By involving local farmers and MSMEs in providing food, this program contributes to improving the community’s economy. The Regent of Banyuwangi, Ipuk Fiestiandani, for example, has stated his region’s readiness to support MBG by utilizing local agricultural products as raw materials for nutritious food for students which can also improve the welfare of farmers and small business actors in the region.
The importance of education is also one of the main aspects in the success of the MBG program. Not only providing nutritious food, this program must also be accompanied by socialization to the community about the importance of a healthy diet. Through ongoing education, children and their families can understand the benefits of balanced nutrition and apply it in their daily lives.
To ensure the sustainability of this program, synergy is needed between the central government, local governments, the business world, and the wider community. The central government is responsible for providing adequate regulations and budgets, while local governments must ensure that the implementation of the program in the field runs well. The business world, including the agriculture and food sectors, can play a role in providing quality food, while the community has a responsibility to support this program through awareness of the importance of balanced nutrition.
In several regions, the MBG program has had a positive impact. For example, in Banyuwangi, the implementation of this program has gone well thanks to the collaboration between the local government and local business actors. By partnering with farmers and MSMEs in providing food ingredients, this program has been able to reduce costs and increase people’s purchasing power. In addition, the existence of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) kitchen also ensures that the food provided to students meets the established nutritional standards.
Cross-sector coordination is also key in ensuring that the distribution and quality of food provided to children is maintained. The logistics and distribution aspects of food are also important factors in the success of this program.
