BGN: 29,400 Free Nutritious Meal Kitchens Verified

Mataram - Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Sony Sonjaya revealed that 29,400 kitchens for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program have been verified nationwide as partners.

“Currently, 29,400 kitchens are verified nationally and 27,900 are operational,” Sonjaya stated during a press conference at the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Police Headquarters in Mataram on Friday.

He added that this verified number represents 80% of the national target of 30,000 locations. “The remainder is pending real data validation, particularly in remote areas,” he said.

Sonjaya explained that the national requirement for MBG distribution currently covers 82.9 million beneficiaries. The recipients now include not only students but also pregnant women, nursing mothers, and educators.

“We prioritise pregnant women, nursing mothers, toddlers, students, and educators,” he said.

Furthermore, Sonjaya noted that government budget efficiency measures have impacted BGN operations, with some activity budgets cut. “BGN welcomes this government policy without compromising quality. The large portion remains at Rp15,000 and the small portion at Rp13,000,” he said.

The Rp15,000 large portion is for students in Year 4 of primary school, pregnant women, and educators, while the Rp13,000 small portion is distributed to toddlers up to Year 3 primary school students.

“That budget comprises operational costs, incentives, and raw materials,” he added.