Food Coordinating Ministry confident local raw materials for MBG will stabilise prices

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs (Kemenko Pangan) is convinced that the utilisation of local food raw materials for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme can stabilise prices while strengthening the national food ecosystem. Deputy for Coordination of Food Affordability and Security at Kemenko Pangan, Nani Hendiarti, stated in Jakarta on Monday that efforts to maintain food stability are not only related to supply but also to strengthening integrated governance. “The raw food materials come from local sources, which can first reduce prices. Because logistics costs are quite high, it can reduce by several percent if sourced from local food, and with local food, the ecosystem will be built,” she said. The government, she added, is preparing specific technical guidelines to ensure the food supply for the MBG programme remains guaranteed by prioritising local sources. According to Nani, the use of local raw materials is the main strategy because it can suppress logistics costs that have so far contributed significantly to food prices. By utilising production from surrounding areas, food ingredient prices are deemed able to be reduced significantly. In addition, this approach is also expected to build a stronger and more sustainable food ecosystem. The supply chain, she said, will involve various parties, from farmers and fishermen, UMKM actors, cooperatives, Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), to Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (KDMP). Furthermore, she stated that the government will encourage more mature planning of raw material needs, especially for horticultural commodities. The government also ensures that all implementations remain in accordance with the established governance regulations. Previously, she had stated that her side is drafting a Draft Coordinating Ministerial Regulation (Permenko) for Food Affairs regarding the local raw material supply chain for the MBG Programme. She said the establishment of this Permenko aims to implement the mandate of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 115 of 2025 on the Governance of the Free Nutritious Meals Programme, which mandates Kemenko Pangan to coordinate various ministries/institutions in ensuring the food supply chain for MBG.