One Year of Prabowo-Gibran Ensures Free Nutritional Meals Brings Real Change to Children’s Nutrition and the Village Economy

Jakarta – As President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran have completed their first year in office, one of the flagship programs garnering public attention is the Free Nutritional Meals (MBG). This program is claimed to have a real impact on improving children’s nutrition and stimulating the village economy.

According to government data, by August 2025, more than 20 million people, including school children, pre-school children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, will have enjoyed daily nutritious meal services. Furthermore, the MBG program has been proven to create approximately 290,000 jobs in the local food processing sector and involve 1 million farmers, fishermen, livestock breeders, and MSMEs as food procurement partners.

Mariana, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), emphasized that the MBG is not just a social policy, but rather a government-led movement to guarantee every child’s right to nutrition and love.

“Under President Prabowo Subianto’s direction, we want to ensure that no child learns on an empty stomach, and no mother worries about their child’s growth and development,” said Mariana.

The government also claims that money circulation at the village level has increased significantly due to the procurement of local food for the MBG, reaching an estimated IDR 8 billion per year per village in several locations. This indicates that the nutrition program is not only about health, but also about economic stimulus for rural communities.

The Head of the Bengkulu Regional Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG), Gloria Situmorang, explained that the MBG program has been able to stimulate the regional economy. Several SPPGs utilize MSMEs to purchase food supplies, which in turn provides economic stimulus for rural communities.

“MBG has proven to be effective in stimulating the regional economy. Several SPPGs utilize local MSMEs to procure food supplies, thus providing a real economic stimulus for rural communities,” she said.

During various visits to villages, several village heads and parents expressed their appreciation for the multiplier effect of this program. Children are more diligent in attending school because they are not hungry, and local farmers have a steady market for their crops. In several regions, increased student attendance has been recorded as an indicator of the program’s success.

The Deputy Secretary for Promotion and Cooperation at the National Development Planning Agency (BGN), Mochamad Halim, explained that the MBG Program is designed with three main benefits: fulfilling children’s nutritional needs, stimulating the local economy, and creating jobs. This program targets students from kindergarten to high school, including religious institutions such as Islamic boarding schools and seminaries.

“Each MBG kitchen involves around 45 local workers, from food processors and distribution drivers to nutritionists and accountants. This way, this program not only improves children’s health but also stimulates the community’s economy,” Halim explained.

With a commitment to continuously strengthening this program in remote villages and ensuring direct benefits reach vulnerable children, the Prabowo-Gibran administration hopes that the MBG will not be just a campaign promise, but rather a tangible demonstration of its work in improving the nutrition and economy of rural communities.