NTB Regional Secretary Lalu Gita Ariadi announced the goal while presiding over a virtual meeting in Mataram, NTB, with representatives of district and municipal governments across the province on Friday.
The meeting was also joined by an expert staff member from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Bobby Kusuma.
According to Ariadi, the 450 kitchens are essential to meet the nutritional needs of 1,336,058 students enrolled in 10,474 schools across NTB.
"The development of these kitchens will be fully funded by the state budget," he informed while noting that President Prabowo Subianto is seeking to cover 83 million beneficiaries, including toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, through the program.
Ariadi said that the provincial government aims to submit a list of sites for the kitchens to the central government by May 30, 2025, once district and municipal governments finish collecting data on potential locations.
"The provincial government's role is to facilitate and oversee the MBG program's implementation," he said.
Meanwhile, BGN expert Kusuma said that the development of the MBG kitchens in NTB is targeted to be completed in September this year.
He then urged local governments to move swiftly and scout available and certified land or sites, so that the BGN can review them first-hand.
Outlining the criteria for the locations, he said they must have a minimum area of 800 square meters, be located away from landfills and at a 20-minute distance from schools at the most, and have reliable electricity and water systems.
They also need to be located on access roads measuring at least three meters wide.
"The MBG program is expected to give a boost to local culinary businesses, unlock regional potential, and enhance human resources quality," he said.
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Translator: Nur I, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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