MBG Program Forms Government’s Commitment to Improving Indonesian Children’s Nutrition

Jakarta, – The Indonesian government has launched the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) as a strategic effort to improve the nutritional status of children throughout the country. This program is a strategic effort by the government to overcome the problems of malnutrition and stunting which are still significant challenges for the health of the Indonesian people.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Bima Arya Sugiarto, emphasized that this program will start in January 2025. He emphasized the importance of refining the concept and trials before full implementation, especially regarding the budget that must be adjusted to the conditions of each region.

“Make sure the food meets nutritional intake, and there are economic benefits for the community. That requires collaboration,” he said.

The MBG program is designed to reach 82.9 million beneficiaries, not only for children but also pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, and students from PAUD to high school levels, both in public and private schools, as well as religious educational institutions. The program will begin in January 2025 at 932 points, with plans to expand to 2,000 points in April 2025 and 5,000 points in July-August 2025. It is hoped that by 2027, all target beneficiaries can be served.

The government has allocated a budget of IDR 71 trillion to support this program. Each service unit will receive funds between IDR 9 and IDR 11 billion, with 85% of the budget allocated for purchasing raw materials from local farmers.

This approach not only ensures the availability of nutritious food for children, but also contributes to strengthening the local economy by empowering local farmers and food producers.

On the other hand, CELIOS Public Policy Director, Wahyudi Askar, gave his views on the challenges that might be faced in implementing this program. According to him,

“Although a large budget has been allocated, the implementation of this program still faces many challenges. Rushing implementation without in-depth study has the potential to waste limited resources.” He said. He also highlighted the importance of considering local conditions in Indonesia and the risk of budget inefficiency due to overly long supply chain distribution.

Although the MBG program has noble goals, its implementation is not without challenges. Incidents of food poisoning that occurred in several schools have become a serious concern. In response, the government has taken steps to improve food safety standards and ensure the quality of food served.