He added that the program has also built a guaranteed market for farmers and livestock breeders, with products such as rice, eggs, vegetables, and animal protein absorbed as raw ingredients for MBG meals.
"We have succeeded in revitalizing the people's economy. Every day, we need eggs, vegetables, fish, chicken, and ingredients from the villages," Prabowo said in a speech at a national political party conference in Jakarta on Monday.
The president noted that his government has allocated Rp335 trillion (over US$22 billion) for the program in 2026. The funds will be directed to villages, whereas previous budgets were concentrated in major cities.
Since its launch in January, the MBG program has reached nearly 30 million beneficiaries with a budget of around Rp300 trillion, he said.
"We have proven that with good intentions, we can do much," he stressed.
Prabowo explained that the program not only benefits students and pregnant women but also stimulates growth at the village level.
He acknowledged challenges such as food shortages and isolated food poisoning cases but emphasized they were minimal — only 0.00017 percent compared to the program’s scale.
Calling the initiative "an enormous and unprecedented undertaking," Prabowo compared it with Brazil, which took 11 years to reach 40 million beneficiaries under a similar program, while Indonesia has reached 30 million in under a year.
"Are there shortcomings? Yes. But the benefits are greater. Many elites do not realize that some of our people eat rice with only salt. Now we can give them something they need," he said.
Related news: Prabowo calls for food safety testing at MBG kitchens
Related news: Prabowo issues instructions on free nutritious meals program to BGN
Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
