Finance Minister Admits Free Nutritious Meal Programme Faces Field Challenges

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has stated that the government is not turning a blind eye to the challenges facing the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. Speaking at a DPR plenary session in Jakarta on Tuesday (14/7/2026), he acknowledged that the initial phase of execution has encountered various obstacles on the ground.

Purbaya explained that the early challenges in executing the programme centre on supply chain readiness, food distribution routes, and logistical capacity, particularly in frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped regions.

As a concrete corrective measure, the government is encouraging MBG kitchens, known as Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), to empower local resources. This involves fostering collaboration with community production centres, village-owned enterprises (BUMDES), and micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM).

Through this collaboration, SPPG units are expected to act as a conduit for absorbing food ingredients directly from local farmers, livestock breeders, and fishermen in the vicinity of the service locations.