Free meal programme empowers grassroots communities: Minister

“The MBG program implementation must be continuously improved and refined so that it leads to the development of an economic ecosystem and supply chain that can give rise to new entrepreneurs, help MSMEs grow, and increasingly diverse and productive local production,” he said here on Thursday.

During an event marking one year of the MBG program, Iskandar emphasized that the government also wants to improve the program’s quality so that it can be enjoyed evenly by students, including with better meal menus.

“The spearhead of building this economic ecosystem is the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG). Therefore, it is strategic to manage and organize SPPG so that it truly becomes the frontline of community empowerment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Sony Sonjaya said that over the past year of MBG implementation, 27,066 SPPGs have been verified, with more than 25 thousand already operational.

“In terms of community empowerment, this is the first concrete manifestation because all 27 thousand SPPGs empower local communities,” he said.

He added that to ensure traditional markets are not disrupted, innovation from local governments is needed to develop supply chains. One example is Bogor District, West Java, which has created a hydroponic thematic village.

“They grow vegetables such as water spinach and others using hydroponics,” he said.

He explained that 1.7 million people are working in SPPGs, demonstrating real community empowerment.

“In implementing MBG, 30 percent of communities (working in) SPPGs are prioritized from the extreme poor category,” he said.

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Translator: Lintang, Kenzu