He endorsed the national priority program during an iftar event with journalists at his official residence in Jakarta on Monday night, March 16, according to a statement cited on Tuesday.
Expanding on his view, Susanto pointed to his ministry’s efforts to involve thematic villages as suppliers of food ingredients and commodities for MBG kitchens, thereby stimulating economic growth among rural communities.
He described thematic villages as the outcome of a program designed to optimize village development by harnessing local potential and natural resources, particularly in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
“Last year, we launched a food security program that has led to the emergence of villages designated as powerhouses of laying hens, corn, catfish, tilapia, and broiler chickens,” Susanto said.
He further explained that the government requires rural administrations to allocate at least 20 percent of the village funds they receive to food security initiatives.
The minister added that the benefits of the MBG program extend beyond economic gains, as it is also intended to address nutritional deficiencies among rural residents.
“Villagers typically rarely consume eggs, chickens, and other food that meets their nutritional needs,” he remarked, adding that the MBG program has been well received nationwide for that reason.
Bearing that in mind, Susanto deemed demands to halt the MBG program unreasonable and called on the public to work together to ensure its success for the greater good.
Since its launch in January 2025, the MBG program has served more than 60 million people across Indonesia, including schoolchildren, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children under five.
President Prabowo Subianto has set a target for the program to cover about 83 million residents by the end of this year.
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Translator: Tri/Citro, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Arie Novarina
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