Free Nutritious Meal Program Accelerates National Stunting Reduction
By: Puteri Anggini
The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) was initiated to improve the quality of health and education of Indonesian children and is one of the government’s main priorities. The MBG program is not only limited to free meals at school, but is part of the government’s grand strategy to improve the quality of education and health of Indonesian children. The government is committed to expanding this program to reach more children throughout the country.
The MBG program, which has been launched by the government since early 2025, is expected to be a real solution in accelerating the reduction of national stunting rates. With the main targets being school children, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers, this program aims to ensure that vulnerable groups receive sufficient nutritional intake to support optimal growth and development.
The Indonesian House of Representatives and the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) emphasized the importance of the involvement of all parties in making this program a success. Ashabul Kahfi, as the Head of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, emphasized that this program is not just food assistance, but also a strategic step to create the golden generation of 2045. According to him, the stunting rate which is still at 21.7 percent shows that Indonesia still faces major challenges in fulfilling the community’s nutrition.
Indonesia has major challenges in overcoming stunting and malnutrition, which have broad implications for the quality of human resources. Children who experience malnutrition from an early age are at risk of experiencing growth disorders, cognitive disorders, and decreased productivity in the future. Therefore, the MBG policy is one of the important instruments in building a healthier, smarter, and more competitive generation.
In addition to health benefits, this program also has a positive impact on the national economy. By collaborating with farmers, livestock breeders, and fishermen as the main suppliers of food, MBG is expected to be able to drive the domestic production sector. MSMEs will also be involved through the Food and Nutrition Center (SPPG) or MBG Kitchen, which has currently reached 245 units out of a target of 5,000 units. The involvement of the economic sector shows that the MBG program is not just a social assistance project, but also an effort to empower the lower class economy.
In addition, the Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, emphasized the importance of a preventive approach in ensuring public health. He emphasized that stunting prevention must begin during pregnancy, by ensuring adequate nutritional intake for pregnant women. This shows that the MBG program should not only focus on children, but also on pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who are the main factors in preventing stunting early on.
Support for the MBG program also came from the General Chairperson of the Central Leadership (PP) of Muslimat NU, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, who stated that this program is a form of President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to creating a strong, intelligent, and characterful generation of Indonesia. With the MBG, it is hoped that no more children will experience hunger at school, so that they can grow and develop optimally.
President Prabowo himself emphasized that the budget for MBG will be maintained to ensure that Indonesian children get nutritious food. He even expressed his readiness to save on overseas travel budgets in order to allocate more funds for this program. According to him, what is more important now is real steps in eradicating poverty and improving people’s welfare, one of which is through fulfilling adequate food needs.
The success of similar programs in various developed countries can be an inspiration for Indonesia. European countries, for example, have succeeded in improving the quality of human resources through strong policies in the fields of nutrition and education. With a systematic approach and involving various parties, Indonesia can also achieve the same target.
Ultimately, the MBG program is a positive step that must be supported by all elements of society. This program is not just about fulfilling basic needs, but also a long-term investment to improve the quality of future generations. The government is expected to continue to optimize the implementation of this program, both in terms of budget, distribution, and sustainability so that its benefits can be felt optimally by all Indonesian people. The community must continue to support all government policies so that development programs can run smoothly and provide broad benefits for all people.
