Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) discussed the\nfree nutritious meals (MBG) programme. He stated that children will be\nsleepy in school if their nutrition is inadequate.<\/p>\n
This was conveyed by Zulhas at the inauguration of the Indonesian\nAssociation of Free Nutritious Meals Entrepreneurs and Managers\n(APPMBGI) in East Jakarta on Sunday (26\/4\/2026). Zulhas said the MBG\nprogramme is expected to help improve the nutrition of Indonesian\nchildren.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they are well-nourished, their bodies will be perfect, their\nbrains will be perfect, then our children will be able to follow\neducation no matter how advanced or rigorous it is, so they can compete\nwith other countries,\u201d said Zulhas, who attended the event\nvirtually.<\/p>\n
He stated that changing the curriculum alone is not enough. He\nmentioned that children\u2019s nutrition affects their school\nperformance.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter how great our education is, no matter how many times we\nchange the curriculum, if our children are not well-nourished, they will\nbe sleepy in school. They will not be able to compete with other\ncountries because their abilities will certainly be limited if our\nchildren are malnourished,\u201d said Zulhas.<\/p>\n
He hopes that MBG managers are not measured solely by numbers. He\nsaid the Coordinating Ministry for Food will further regulate MBG\ngovernance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have already arranged the governance so that there will be\nsynergy between SPPG, existing businesses in the village, whether\nBUMDes, UMKM, or the Red White Village Cooperative. This is a concern\nfor all of us because this is a very important mission,\u201d said\nZulhas.<\/p>\n
Zulhas stated that the government is also targeting food\nself-sufficiency. He said village cooperatives will continue to be\ndeveloped.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe continuation will certainly be food self-sufficiency, then there\nwill be village cooperatives, cooperatives, village economic\ndevelopment, so we hope that villages can become centres of economic\ngrowth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Deputy for Food Affordability and Security at the Coordinating\nMinistry for Food, Nani Hendiarti, said her side has prepared a\nministerial regulation on supply chain governance. The hope is that this\ngovernance can strengthen the local economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor that, we are also drafting the ministerial regulation, but\nindeed we have started, ladies and gentlemen, on how to create this food\nsupply chain or ensure it, because if there are no food ingredients, the\nprogramme cannot run. And it is hoped that the food supplies come from\nlocal sources,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
General Chairman of APPMBGI Abdul Rivai Ras said his side has\ninaugurated the Regional Board of Management. He targets there will be\n514 managers in regencies\/cities to strengthen the MBG programme.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to ensure the continuity of food, the continuity of MBG\ngovernance going forward. Not stopping in 2029 alone, but we hope this\nbecomes a big concept, even if necessary, backed by a law as the\numbrella for the implementation or execution of free nutritious meals,\u201d\nhe said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/zulhas-if-children-are-malnourished-they-will-be-sleepy-in-school-1777193479", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }