INFO TEMPO - The Lampung Provincial Government is committed to\nsupporting the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) as a strategic\ninstrument to improve the quality of human resources while promoting\nrural economic equality.<\/p>\n
This was conveyed by Lampung Governor Rahmat Mirzani Djausal while\nattending the inauguration of the Lampung Province Branch of the Joint\nAssociation of Free Nutritious Meal Entrepreneurs (Gapenbi) for the\n2025\u20132030 period at the Radisson Hotel Ballroom, Bandar Lampung, on\nTuesday, 19 May 2026.<\/p>\n
According to Mirza, the MBG programme is not merely an aid programme;\nit is a long-term investment to create an excellent generation towards\nIndonesia Emas 2045.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistory of world civilisation shows that advanced nations always\nbegin with children who are intelligent and healthy. Therefore, the\nquality of education must be accompanied by good nutrition,\u201d said\nMirza.<\/p>\n
He explained that the MBG idea has long attracted the attention of\nPresident Prabowo Subianto as an effort to address social inequality and\npoverty, particularly in rural areas.<\/p>\n
Mirza explained that Lampung faces major challenges because a large\nportion of the population depends on the agricultural sector. Price\nfluctuations of commodities such as maize and cassava over the years\nhave affected farmers\u2019 welfare.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe MBG programme is expected to become an instrument for economic\nequality. State funds flow directly to villages through MBG kitchens,\ncreating a new cycle of economic activity at the community level,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Currently, Mirza said, more than a thousand MBG kitchens have been\nestablished in Lampung Province, absorbing labour and opening new\nbusiness opportunities for rural communities.<\/p>\n
He also stressed the importance of building an integrated\nsupply-chain ecosystem between MBG kitchens, village cooperatives,\nfarmers, ranchers, and local SMEs so that the economic benefits of the\nprogramme can be felt more widely.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing forward, MBG kitchens must not rely solely on suppliers from\nthe city. Village agricultural and livestock products must be a main\npart of the supply chain so that economic growth truly occurs from the\nground up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
To support this, the Lampung Provincial Government will push for\ncooperation between the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) and\nvillage cooperatives and local business operators across all\ndistricts\/ccities.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Tengku Syahdana, Director of Empowerment and Community\nParticipation at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), appreciated the\nLampung Provincial Government\u2019s support for accelerating the MBG\nprogramme.<\/p>\n
He said the MBG programme is a national strategic programme that not\nonly impacts child nutrition but also opens up large-scale\npeople-powered economic opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis programme has an extraordinary economic impact. Each kitchen\nmanages a budget that circulates directly within the community through\nthe procurement of food staples, involvement of SMEs, farmers, and\nvillage cooperatives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to Tengku, the MBG programme\u2019s success is determined by\ncollaboration among all parties, from local government, business\noperators, cooperatives, to rural communities.<\/p>\n
He also urged that every MBG kitchen involve as many local business\noperators as possible so that the economic benefits are not concentrated\namong a single group.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo member of the community should be merely a spectator. Everyone\nmust become part of the supply chain and move up together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
At the event, the Chairman of Gapenbi, Alven Sony, stated that MBG\npartners have made major contributions to supporting government\nprogrammes through independent investment in kitchen construction.<\/p>\n
He said that thousands of MBG kitchens established in various regions\nare the result of partner investments, without drawing development funds\nfrom the national budget (APBN).<\/p>\n
\u201cThis programme is a form of national mutual cooperation to support\nPresident Prabowo Subianto\u2019s vision of creating a healthy and quality\ngeneration,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He hopes that support from regional governments and all stakeholders\nwill be strengthened, including in educating the public about the\nbenefits and aims of the MBG programme.<\/p>\n
The inauguration of the Lampung Gapenbi leadership is expected to\nstrengthen synergy between government, business actors, and communities\nin driving the Free Nutritious Meal Programme as a driver of rural\neconomic development and human resource development in Lampung\nProvince.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lampung-provincial-government-urges-mbg-kitchens-to-source-local-produce-from-farmers-ranchers-and-msmes-1779542827", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }