Banten Provincial Government Optimises Horticulture to Supply Raw Materials for Free Nutritious Meals Programme

Governor of Banten Andra Soni is optimising the potential of the horticulture sector in the region to become the main supplier of raw materials for the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG) while driving the grassroots economy. Governor Andra in Serang on Friday highlighted that the contribution of local horticultural products in his region is still relatively small, despite Banten’s geographical location close to large-scale consumer markets being a highly efficient logistical advantage for agribusiness development. He made the statement while receiving a visit from the Regional Board of the Greater Indonesia Christian Movement (GEKIRA) of Banten Province at the Banten Provincial State Building in Serang City. According to him, produce from the horticulture sector is very much in line with efforts to fulfil the supply chain for the MBG Programme initiated by President Prabowo Subianto. The programme is considered not merely an effort to meet nutritional needs, but an economic instrument involving farmers, livestock breeders, and MSME players so they can directly feel the impact of money circulation. Furthermore, Governor Andra affirmed that the Banten Provincial Government continues to support the strengthening of national food security through the development of productive agricultural land to maintain the stability of local food availability. Responding to the sector’s potential, Chairman of the Banten Province PD GEKIRA Yan Kaunang expressed readiness to engage the younger generation to actively participate in advancing the agricultural sector in rural areas to fulfil the supply chain of the national strategic programme. ‘We want to be a catalyst together with young people. The hope is that in the future, they can produce agricultural products and become suppliers for the needs of the Free Nutritious Meals Programme and Village Cooperatives, so that the community’s economic growth continues to develop,’ said Yan.