The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has altered the implementation\ndirection of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. Under its new\nleadership, the BGN stated that it will no longer focus on pursuing the\ntarget of 82 million beneficiaries this year, instead prioritising\nservice quality and the programme\u2019s precision in reaching the intended\nrecipients.<\/p>\n
The Head of the BGN, Nanik Sudary Emaryati Deyang, stated that her\nagency will no longer make the achievement of the 82 million beneficiary\ntarget the primary priority in executing President Prabowo\u2019s flagship\nprogramme. Nanik noted that the new BGN leadership team has directly\ninformed the President of their intention to shift focus from quantity\nto programme quality. \u201cYesterday, the three of us were called by the\nPresident, and we conveyed to him that for 2025, we request not to chase\nquantity. We will improve quality,\u201d Nanik said during a press conference\nat the BGN office in Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, 4 June\n2026.<\/p>\n
She explained that this change in focus is being implemented\nalongside efforts to improve governance and budget efficiency within the\nBGN. Consequently, the expansion of the number of beneficiaries will no\nlonger be the primary measure of the programme\u2019s success. \u201cIt may be\nthat we do not pursue the 82 million figure, but rather ensure that\nthese kitchens are healthy and provide nutritious meals,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Nanik explained that the BGN will also restructure the list of\nbeneficiaries to ensure the budget is more precisely targeted. One\noption currently under review is reducing the programme\u2019s coverage in\nschools identified as belonging to higher-income economic groups,\nreallocating those resources to regions in greater need. \u201cIf there are\nexpensive schools, we ask whether the MBG is still necessary. We will\nredirect this to the 3T areas (underdeveloped, outermost, and frontier\nregions),\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to Nanik, this approach allows the number of beneficiaries\nto continue growing without requiring an even expansion across all\nregions. Instead, the programme will focus on groups facing higher\nnutritional risks. These high-need groups include communities in the 3T\nregions and the so-called \u20183B\u2019 groups: pregnant women (bumil),\nbreastfeeding mothers (busui), and toddlers (balita).<\/p>\n
Nanik stated that this decision was made after the BGN consulted with\nchild health experts and nutritionists regarding the groups most in need\nof nutritional intervention. \u201cNutritional intervention is most effective\nfrom the first month of pregnancy until the age of nine, or until\nprimary school. That is where we will focus,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
As a result, the BGN now mandates that every Nutritional Fulfilment\nService Unit (SPPG) must serve the 3B groups. According to her, this\npolicy has shown positive results in recent weeks. \u201cThe SPPG must\ninclude the 3B groups\u2014pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and\ntoddlers. If not, we will suspend them. Alhamdulillah, the results are\ngood,\u201d Nanik concluded.<\/p>\n
Nanik emphasised that the ultimate goal of the programme remains\nunchanged: to improve the nutritional quality of the population.\nHowever, she maintained that achieving this goal does not necessarily\nrequire chasing beneficiary numbers alone. \u201cThe important thing is that\nthe budget is focused and the intervention is precisely targeted,\u201d said\nNanik.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/national-nutrition-agency-no-longer-pursuing-82-million-target-for-free-nutritious-meal-programme-1780821454", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }