BGN Leadership Appreciates Kang DS Innovation, Gertaman Ready to Supply MBG

Bandung Regent Dadang Supriatna and Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Sony Sonjaya conducted the first harvest of the Gerakan Tanami Halaman (Gertaman) programme at the Regent’s official residence in the Bandung Regency government complex on Thursday (19/3/2026). The pair harvested various vegetable commodities, such as pakcoy, celery, spinach, water spinach, and sweet potatoes, as a tangible demonstration of support for local food security efforts. On this occasion, BGN Deputy Head Sony Sonjaya expressed appreciation for the breakthrough initiative by Regent Dadang in launching the Gertaman programme across Bandung Regency. He described the programme as a smart step to optimise unproductive household or office yards by planting various economically valuable commodities with short harvest times. Sony assessed that this programme is highly beneficial for strengthening the food security movement and assisting in supplying the needs of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) in Bandung Regency. “This innovation is worth emulating and developing in other regions because the Gertaman harvest can be channelled to SPPG, thereby reducing dependence on external supplies. The Regent’s innovation is extraordinary,” said Sony Sonjaya during the first harvest. In addition to supplying MBG needs for nearby SPPG kitchens, Sony continued, the community also gains additional income from selling those vegetables. Therefore, he stated, if implemented seriously and consistently, the Gertaman programme can routinely supply MBG needs while also playing a role in maintaining community food security. Regent Dadang Supriatna revealed that Gertaman was officially launched on 23 December 2025 at the Soreang Sub-District Office. The programme aims to support President Prabowo Subianto’s food security initiative and MBG in Bandung Regency. “Alhamdulillah, after the launch on 23 December, today we can carry out the first harvest together with the Deputy Head of BGN. The harvest results are extraordinary,” explained Regent Dadang Supriatna. The top official in Bandung Regency described the Gertaman movement as a real effort by the Bandung Regency government to build family food self-sufficiency in the regency. “From the start of the launch, the idea is to utilise unproductive yard land for planting economically valuable crops with short harvest times. At minimum, to meet personal needs; if there is a surplus, it can be sold at KDMP to support MBG,” said the Regent, affectionately known as Kang DS. He once again invited the community to seize the opportunities in the MBG programme, which has a money circulation of up to Rp 5.4 trillion per year in the region. “I am optimistic that the community’s harvest results will also meet MBG needs because the MBG requirements are very large.” Various plant commodities, such as red chillies, bird’s eye chillies, carrots, cabbage, pakcoy, spinach, and eggplants, are planted in this programme. The selection of commodities is based on market needs and the plants’ adaptation potential in yards. Regent Dadang invited all Bandung Regency residents to actively participate in Gertaman to achieve food self-sufficiency and family economic stability. “Let us together utilise our home yards to plant productive crops and vegetables. In this way, we not only meet family food needs but also contribute to regional economic stability,” urged the Regent.