House of Representatives: Free Nutritious Meal Programme Drives MSME and Farmer Empowerment

Surabaya (ANTARA) — Member of the House of Representatives’ Commission IX, Lucy Kurniasari, has stated that the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) is driving the empowerment of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), livestock farmers and local agricultural producers through their involvement in the supply chain of Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG).

“This free nutritious meal programme carries significant benefits for the health and welfare of the public, and therefore must be received in full by beneficiaries in accordance with established standards,” she said in a statement in Surabaya on Tuesday.

Lucy explained that beyond its focus on meeting the public’s nutritional needs, the MBG programme is also designed to stimulate the economy around SPPG locations by engaging MSME operators, livestock farmers and agricultural producers as food supply providers.

“In its management, each SPPG has a head, an accountant and a nutritionist tasked with ensuring food quality and sound governance. In Surabaya, stunting rates have continued to decline, indicating that nutritional composition and distribution are improving,” Lucy added.

She also encouraged the public to help monitor the programme’s implementation to ensure that economic benefits and nutritional improvements are delivered optimally and reach the intended recipients.

The MBG programme is a policy initiated by President Prabowo Subianto as part of the eight-mission Asta Cita agenda, which emphasises strengthening human resources, village-level development and improving public welfare.