{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1787261,
        "msgid": "hkti-assesses-free-nutritious-meals-programme-as-improving-public-nutrition-and-farmer-welfare-1780699899",
        "date": "2026-06-05 21:07:24",
        "title": "HKTI assesses free nutritious meals programme as improving public nutrition and farmer welfare",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Economy",
        "summary": "The Indonesian Farmers' Harmony Association (HKTI) has praised the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme for its dual impact on public health and rural economies. The initiative is credited with boosting the absorption of agricultural, livestock, and fishery products, thereby expanding market opportunities for local farmers and food enterprises. The programme has reportedly engaged over 1.28 million workers and 142,000 suppliers across various regions.",
        "content": "<p>The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme is assessed as aiding the\nimprovement of public nutrition while simultaneously enhancing farmer\nwelfare and opening new economic opportunities in various regions,\naccording to the Indonesian Farmers\u2019 Harmony Association (HKTI). HKTI\u2019s\nDaily Chair, Bachtiar Utomo, stated that the programme has a direct\nimpact on human resource quality whilst providing economic benefits to\nthe community. \u201cThe Free Nutritious Meals programme is very good for\nhelping to meet the nutritional needs of school children. This programme\nalso supports pregnant women and toddlers, thus helping to reduce\nstunting rates and improve public health quality,\u201d Bachtiar said in an\nofficial statement received in Jakarta on Friday. He noted that the\ndemand for foodstuffs to support the MBG programme has increased the\nabsorption of agricultural, livestock, and fishery products, thereby\nopening wider market opportunities for farmers and local food business\noperators. \u201cThe higher the food demand for the MBG programme, the\ngreater the volume of farmers\u2019 produce that is absorbed. The impact is\ncertainly very positive on farmers\u2019 income and welfare,\u201d he stated.\nBeyond increasing the absorption of agricultural produce, the MBG\nprogramme is also deemed to have the potential to create new jobs\nthrough activities involving food supply, food processing, distribution,\nand kitchen operations. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) reported\nthat as of 22 May 2026, the MBG programme had absorbed approximately\n1.28 million workers through the operation of 29,225 Nutrition\nFulfilment Service Units (SPPG) across various regions. The programme\nwas also recorded to involve 142,387 suppliers. Of that number, 59,921\nare micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), 13,306 are\ncooperatives, 690 are Merah Putih Village\/Sub-district Cooperatives\n(KDKMP), 1,410 are Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), and 157 are Joint\nVillage-Owned Enterprises (BUMDesma). The other 66,903 suppliers consist\nof various foodstuff providers and other support services. According to\nBachtiar, the MBG programme delivers a multiplier effect on regional\neconomies because it involves farmers, ranchers, fishermen, MSMEs, and\nservice business operators in the national food supply chain. \u201cThis\nprogramme not only provides nutritious food to the community but also\ndrives regional economies. There are farmers whose harvests are\nabsorbed, MSMEs that are growing, and jobs that are created,\u201d he said.\nFurthermore, HKTI believes the MBG programme can become an important\ninstrument in building a healthy and strong Indonesian generation whilst\nstrengthening national food security and regional economies. \u201cChildren\nreceive good nutrition, farmers become more prosperous, regional\neconomies move, and ultimately national food security becomes stronger,\u201d\nconcluded Bachtiar.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hkti-assesses-free-nutritious-meals-programme-as-improving-public-nutrition-and-farmer-welfare-1780699899",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}