Don Muzakir Confident Sudaryono Will Strengthen Free Nutritious Meal Programme

Don Muzakir, Chairman of DPN Tani Merdeka Indonesia, has congratulated Sudaryono on his official appointment as Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). He believes Sudaryono’s experience will be crucial for continuing and strengthening the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated Sudaryono as Head of BGN at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. Sudaryono replaces Nanik S. Deyang, who resigned due to health reasons. Don Muzakir stated that Sudaryono is a hardworking, meticulous individual with the ability to manage programmes in a measured way. He considers these characteristics essential for running the MBG programme, which is now one of the government’s priority initiatives. ‘Congratulations to Mas Sudaryono on the trust given to him as Head of the National Nutrition Agency. I know him as a hardworking, consistent, and very meticulous person. I am optimistic that the Free Nutritious Meal programme will run even better under his leadership,’ said Don Muzakir. According to Don Muzakir, Sudaryono is not new to the MBG programme. During his tenure as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, he had followed the programme’s development since its planning stages. Sudaryono was also involved in discussing the concept, formulating policies, and overseeing the technical implementation of MBG. The Ministry of Agriculture has played a significant role in preparing the ecosystem for supplying the food raw materials that underpin the programme. Don Muzakir believes this experience will facilitate coordination between BGN and other ministries and agencies, particularly in ensuring that the food supply for MBG remains available and is sourced from domestic production. ‘Mas Sudaryono has understood this programme from the beginning. He knows how the concept was developed, how it is implemented on the ground, and how to build synergy with the agricultural sector. This experience is an added value for strengthening the future implementation of MBG,’ he said. He expressed hope that the MBG programme will not only improve the nutritional quality of the community but also open a wider market for national agricultural, livestock, and fishery products, so that the economic benefits are directly felt by farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and food business operators.