Analysts say MBG kitchens should be focused on areas with high food insecurity

Ini kan artinya tidak sesuai dengan tujuan awal MBG. Jakarta (ANTARA) - Executive Director of Indikator Politik Indonesia Burhanuddin Muhtadi stated that the formation of the Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) should be more efficient by targeting areas with high levels of food insecurity.

He said, according to data from the Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) and Badan Gizi Nasional (BGN), most MBG kitchens (Makan Bergizi Gratis) are actually built in areas with a prevalence of food insecurity below 15 percent.

‘This means it is not in line with the original MBG objective. So I hope, because this data comes from the government itself, it should be used as a reference to improve the quality of MBG implementation, especially in the current situation where the government also faces fiscal constraints,’ Muhtadi said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

In the SMBC Indonesia Economic Forum 2026, he presented Harvard research results on the distribution of SPPG across 485 regencies/cities by comparing the 2025 Prevalence of Food Consumption Inadequacy per Regency/City from BPS and the number of SPPG from BGN per 1,000 beneficiary children in each regency/city.

According to the study, Kediri City, Metro City, Blitar City, and Magelang City have SPPG per 1,000 beneficiary children proportions above 0.6, with respective food insecurity prevalences of 9.94 percent, 8.96 percent, 8.16 percent, and 12.36 percent.

Meanwhile Yahukimo Regency and Deiyai Regency both have SPPG proportions approaching zero, with food insecurity prevalences of 43.15 percent and 48.28 percent respectively.

Burhanuddin said these conditions trigger envy among segments of society, particularly among low-income groups, as seen in a survey conducted by Indikator Politik. The public believes the programme should be targeted only for left-behind, frontier, and outermost regions (3T).

In the survey organised by their agency, public approval of MBG remained above 50 percent, but satisfaction declined.

‘Indeed, among those who feel their income is low, they are the most opposed to MBG. In political science, there is a term called the 'deservingness theory' (feeling entitled). So the poor feel, 'We are the ones most entitled to MBG, why do the wealthy get it?',’ he explained.

Public approval also declined as the age of participants increased. Moreover, satisfaction with the MBG programme is low among those who consider the budget too large, thus burdening the government’s fiscal position.

In agreement with Burhanuddin Muhtadi, senior economist Raden Pardede highlighted MBG’s budget as too large and stressed the importance of efficiency in managing the budget. However, he added, the programme could deliver many positive impacts for the public, including improved nutrition and increased economic activity.

He said MBG has the potential to provide a multiplier effect in the agriculture, livestock, food and beverages, and logistics sectors.

‘The expectation is that the MBG programme should be implemented efficiently and effectively. There should be no waste. There is no room for expensive sock prices, for example,’ said Raden Pardede.