BGN States MBG Funds of Rp117 Billion Per Day Absorbed by 1.8 Million Extreme Poor Groups

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) states that funds flowing to regions through the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme reach Rp1 trillion per day, absorbed by more than 1 million workers in Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) units, primarily from extreme poor groups. “On average, government funds flowing to regions reach around Rp1 trillion per day. Approximately Rp117 billion is absorbed by 1.8 million workers, especially extreme poor groups, and more than Rp600 billion is absorbed by rice, vegetable, fish, egg, meat, and fruit traders,” said Deputy Head of BGN for Operational Nutrition Fulfilment, Sony Sonjaya, in Jakarta on Thursday, 16 April 2026. Sony explained that the Rp6 million daily incentive for SPPG is not profit, but an investment for community empowerment, as the budget amount will return to the community. “Rp117 billion per day is absorbed by 1.8 million volunteers involved in distributing nutritious food to beneficiaries. These funds serve as economic empowerment for the communities directly involved in implementing the MBG Programme,” said Sony. He added that the MBG Programme can also provide economic impacts for food business actors with hundreds of billions of rupiah flowing daily, absorbed by food traders who supply this national priority programme. According to Sony, the manifestation of community empowerment is evident in the MBG supply chain series, which has always involved Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) to Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes). He urged all SPPG to continue coordinating with local governments to prepare the MBG supply chain, as SPPG needs fulfilled from traditional markets could potentially disrupt economic circulation in the community that has been running so far. “Local governments must start seriously and focus on preparing the supply chain. Do not let SPPG needs be fulfilled from traditional markets, because those places have been used for decades to meet the needs of housewives. Do not let beans, long beans, eggs in traditional markets be competed for between housewives and SPPG heads,” he explained.