“Nutritious meals provided under the MBG program are expected to boost people’s nutritional intake,” Muhammad Suhud, an expert with the BGN, said during an event held to promote the program in a customary village in Denpasar city, Bali, on Monday.
He emphasized that the government has designed MBG as a strategic initiative to produce a generation of high-quality human resources by improving diets.
“We are hoping for support from the public and regional governments for the program, allowing it to become a long-term solution for improving the nutritional intake of Indonesian children,” he said.
During the event, lawmaker Tutik Kusuma Wardhani from Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) said that the MBG program could be an effective tool to protect children from stunting, or impaired growth and development due to chronic malnutrition.
In addition to boosting human resource quality, the MBG program could also empower micro, small, and medium enterprises, and thereby, pave the way for a more inclusive economy, she informed.
The Balinese legislator then called on members of the society, including educators, health workers, and community figures, to play an active role in ensuring the effective implementation of the program.
The BGN reported that, as of Sunday, the program is covering 5,228,529 people across the country. Its beneficiaries include schoolchildren, toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
The figure is the result of the contribution of 72,521 workers stationed in 1,837 special kitchens—officially known as nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPGs)—in nearly all provinces of Indonesia.
The government is targeting to increase the SPPG count to 7 thousand by August and 32 thousand by November this year. This could potentially lead to the absorption of 1.5 million workers.
Related news: More than 5.2 mln people receive free nutritious meals so far: BGN
Related news: BGN designs free meals delivery scheme during school holidays
Related news: MBG kitchen operator training to improve food safety: BGN
Translator: Dewa K, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
