Inmate Rehabilitation Through Kitchen Programme: Ditjenpas Expands Nutritious Meals Initiative to 28 Additional Prisons

The Directorate General of Corrections (Ditjenpas) of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections (Imipas) has begun operating Sukamiskin Class I Prison as a kitchen providing Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) after the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) assessed that the prison kitchen met the required standards. Ditjenpas will add 28 more prisons to become MBG SPPG (Special Provision of Nutritious Food) kitchens.

This was announced by Minister of Imipas, Agus Andrianto, during an inspection visit to Ciangir Class II Open Prison in Tangerang Regency, Banten, on Tuesday (24 February 2026). He stated that his visit was also to observe the development of land within the prison, which is intended to be maximised for the rehabilitation of inmates in the food security sector, with the hope that the harvest will be used to supply food ingredients to the prison’s SPPG kitchen.

“This is also to check on the food security program, because I, along with the Director General (Dirjenpas Mashudi) and officials within Ditjenpas, are now working together with the BGN to establish several SPPGs,” Minister Agus explained to reporters.

“One is already at Sukamiskin Prison, and it will be expanded to 28 more locations, and in the future, there will be an additional 119,” he added.

Minister Agus stated that the Ministry of Imipas will monitor and supervise the prison kitchens that are designated as MBG SPPGs. If the program proves effective, he did not rule out the possibility of increasing the number of prison kitchens involved in providing MBG.

“If it goes well, there is a possibility that the cooperation will be increased,” said Minister Agus.

Food Security: An Opportunity to Improve Welfare

Minister Agus also encouraged employees within his ministry to view food security as an opportunity to improve welfare. He stated that food security has economic value if pursued and can become a source of additional income or a business prepared for employees before retirement.

“By addressing this, I believe it is a good opportunity that can be taken by our corrections and immigration colleagues,” said Minister Agus.

Minister Agus is known to have instructed prison wardens to establish communities of local entrepreneurs in the food sector. The aim is to give local entrepreneurs the opportunity to supply food ingredients to inmates, and it is hoped that this will stimulate the local economy.

He has also established a regulation requiring vendors supplying food ingredients to prisons to absorb at least 5 per cent of the total contract value from the food security activities carried out by inmates. Minister Agus stated that the food needs of inmates and the ingredients for MBG represent a market for players in the food sector.

“Because there is a target market. Food entrepreneurs, whom we have asked to involve local entrepreneurs, can build a community together with the prison warden and immigration officials in the area. Then, they can prepare the food needs within the prison or detention centre, which can then be supplied to the SPPGs established in the prison or detention centre,” explained Minister Agus.

“If there is a surplus of food, it can be used to supply food outside the prison or detention centre. There are so many potential markets; there are already more than 20,000 SPPGs throughout Indonesia. This is a very large potential market,” added Minister Agus.

He said that the inmate rehabilitation program in the food security sector is not only a priority program of the central government but also because its economic potential is real and can benefit many parties. Agus emphasised that this can be achieved if implemented with good collaboration.

“If it can be optimised through collaboration, we can not only achieve food security but also contribute to the welfare of many parties,” said Minister Agus.

“Employees of detention centres or prisons can also contribute and prosper if they are interested in this field of food security, for example, they can borrow capital to invest in food security activities. So that the results of this program will benefit everyone,” he concluded.

(aud/wnv)