Jakarta (ANTARA) \u2014 University of Indonesia (UI) economist Fithra\nFaisal Hastiadi has revealed that the government\u2019s Free Nutritious Meals\n(MBG) programme is helping to drive growth in the agricultural sector by\ncreating a more inclusive economic ecosystem.<\/p>\n
He noted that in the fourth quarter of 2025, national economic growth\nreached 5.39 per cent year-on-year at the macro level, with one of the\nkey drivers being Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), which grew by\n6.12 per cent year-on-year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we look more closely at economic performance, we can see that the\nagricultural sector grew by 5.33 per cent because its products are being\nabsorbed by the Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG),\u201d he said in\na statement in Jakarta on Saturday.<\/p>\n
According to Fithra, SPPG managing partners and entrepreneurs have\nbegun investing in upstream MBG products such as agriculture and\nlivestock farming, making the surge in agricultural sector growth a\nnatural consequence of the programme\u2019s positive impact.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgricultural sector growth last year was in fact the highest in\nseveral years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He explained that agricultural sector growth reached 5.33 per cent in\n2025, compared with just 0.68 per cent in 2024 and 1.31 per cent in\n2023.<\/p>\n
Fithra added that investment in the upstream sector is regarded as a\nlong-term solution to ensure that food requirements for the MBG\nprogramme do not disrupt price stability in general markets, whilst\nsimultaneously strengthening national food security through increased\nproduction capacity among local farmers.<\/p>\n
Beyond its impact on the agricultural sector, whose products are\ndirectly absorbed by the MBG programme, one of the most tangible\nshort-term effects has been the enhancement of the value chain at the\nmicro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) level, as well as encouraging\nthe active participation of women in both formal and informal\nsectors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe MBG programme is far more inclusive when we consider its\ninvestment pattern. Women\u2019s participation has become more visible\nbecause in the culinary sector, women tend to play a dominant role. This\nprovides real economic opportunities for them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The number of Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) continues\nto grow, with 23,000 units established as of 20 February. An estimated\n1.4 million workers have been directly absorbed into the kitchens\npreparing MBG meals.<\/p>\n
According to internal data from the National Nutrition Agency,\napproximately 55 per cent of SPPG kitchen workers are women, meaning\nthat some 770,000 workers absorbed by the MBG programme are female.<\/p>\n
Moreover, according to Fithra, the active participation of women in\nSPPG also contributes to economic empowerment. The MBG programme opens\nnew employment opportunities, particularly for women, and contributes to\nincreased household income.<\/p>\n
Based on a survey by the Research Institute of Socio-Economic\nDevelopment (RISED) of 1,800 parents, the MBG programme was found to\nhave a positive impact on household budget efficiency.<\/p>\n
RISED researcher M. Fajar Rakhmadi reported that 36 per cent of\nrespondents noted a reduction in daily expenditure, primarily due to\ndecreased costs for packed lunches and children\u2019s pocket money.<\/p>\n
Although 63 per cent of families reported savings of less than 10 per\ncent of total monthly spending, the presence of MBG was considered\neffective in maintaining the stability of routine household\nexpenditure.<\/p>\n
Support for the continuation of the MBG programme, according to\nFajar, reached 81 per cent among parents from vulnerable households.\nParents do not merely view MBG as an economic benefit but also as a\nprogramme that provides security and comfort.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the nutritional standards provided by MBG were rated\nvery highly by parents, with 72 per cent of those surveyed agreeing that\ntheir children now consume nutritious food more regularly since\nreceiving MBG meals.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ui-economist-says-free-nutritious-meals-programme-drives-agricultural-sector-growth-1771685673", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }