The rollout follows President Prabowo Subianto's directive to prioritize regions with the highest stunting prevalence and expand the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children under five.
"Based on the data overlay, around 1,700 kitchens are ready and fully built. They are located in areas with high and very high stunting rates, and we will gradually put them into operation," Sudaryono said.
He clarified that reports suggesting the government would immediately open 13,000 kitchens were inaccurate.
"We have data on more than 13,000 kitchens. Some are still proposed locations, while others have already been completed as SPPG facilities," he said.
Sudaryono said the agency matched its data with the Ministry of Health and other ministries and agencies involved in the MBG program to identify priority areas for the deployment of Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs).
He noted that the Ministry of Health maintains household-level data based on names and addresses, allowing the agency to map areas with high stunting rates against completed SPPG facilities.
"We have mapped the data and overlaid it with the locations of completed kitchens. God willing, we will begin announcing the ready facilities gradually starting next week," he said.
Sudaryono said the agency will also determine priority locations for future SPPG development next week to accelerate efforts to reduce stunting and improve children's nutritional status.
He said priority regions include Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, Nias, North Sumatra, remote areas across North Maluku, and Maluku, where nutritional interventions are most urgently needed.
Related news: Indonesia permits large pesantrens run their own MBG kitchens
Related news: Govt prepare Thematic Aquaculture Program
Related news: Indonesia tightens MBG food safety rules after student illness
Translator: Lintang B P, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2026
