Coordinating Minister Muhaimin: Government's MBG Programme Has the Greatest Impact

The most impactful is undoubtedly the Free Nutritious Meals Programme. Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar stated that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Programme is one of the government's priority initiatives with the greatest impact on the wider population. 'The most impactful is undoubtedly the Free Nutritious Meals Programme,' said Coordinating Minister Muhaimin Iskandar at the Ministerial Level Meeting (RTM) in Jakarta on Monday. He explained that the MBG Programme currently reaches 60.2 million beneficiaries. Meanwhile, in the education sector, 61.9 million residents have been covered by various education programmes, including the operation of 166 People's Schools accommodating 14,963 students from poor families. Muhaimin Iskandar assessed that this success is inseparable from programme interventions that directly target the basic needs of the population. 'Regarding the availability of fertiliser, for example, it has a significant impact on farmers' productivity levels; the Farmers' Exchange Rate (NTP) has risen, which is positive. The Fishermen's Village programme as well—these are concrete programmes that can be directly felt due to the right priority scale,' said Muhaimin Iskandar. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture shows that the Farmers' Exchange Rate (NTP) in 2025 reached 125.35, the highest to date. This achievement is supported by the stability of paddy and maize prices, as well as law enforcement to ensure market prices align with the government-set Highest Retail Price (HET). He added that strengthening the food and energy sectors going forward is expected to provide ongoing effects on improving public welfare. 'We hope that food self-sufficiency, food security, and energy security will have a direct impact on industries that further enhance public welfare,' said Muhaimin Iskandar. In terms of numbers, the extreme poor population has decreased from 3.56 million people to 2.2 million people. Thus, around 1.36 million extreme poor individuals have moved up the economic ladder. To achieve these figures, the government has allocated Rp503.2 trillion from the state budget, bolstered by Rp129 trillion from regional budgets. Muhaimin Iskandar emphasised that poverty alleviation programmes will continue because the government targets zero per cent extreme poverty this year. 'We will continue to work hard to achieve the target of zero per cent extreme poverty in 2026, and reduce the poverty rate to a maximum of five per cent by 2029. This requires collective effort, consistency, and focus on tangible results,' he said.