Maman Admits MSME Involvement in Free Nutritious Meals Programme Is Still Limited

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) Minister Maman Abdurrahman has acknowledged that UMKM involvement in the supply chain for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme remains unsatisfactory.

Maman said one reason was that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) was focused on internal organisational reforms, including addressing a number of issues that could potentially constitute legal violations.

“For the past two to three months, the focus has been on putting the BGN’s organisational structure in order. This means that several issues pointing towards possible legal violations are being dealt with properly,” he said at the 2026 Government Credit Programme International Forum in Nusa Dua, Badung, on Thursday (29 October 2026).

Regarding UMKM participation in the MBG programme, Maman said around 69,000 businesses had joined the supply chain. However, he acknowledged that the figure was still not satisfactory.

“We have to say that we are not yet satisfied with the total participation of 69,000 micro, small and medium-sized businesses in this ecosystem,” he said.

Maman said the Ministry of UMKM and the BGN were continuing efforts to broaden business participation in the MBG programme. Alongside increasing the number of UMKM, the government was also focusing on developing local economic ecosystems.

“But beyond all that, there is something more important. What is it? Building a local economic ecosystem for UMKM corporations,” he said.

According to Maman, such ecosystems are beginning to take shape in several regions. He cited the emergence of poultry and fish farms in areas where local communities had not previously developed these businesses on a significant scale.

“In some areas that previously had little interest in establishing chicken and fish farms, people are now starting to set them up and bring them to life because of the MBG programme,” he explained.

In addition to livestock farming, Maman said the MBG programme was also encouraging the development of vegetable gardens in a number of regions to meet food supply needs.

He said the government was continuing to monitor these developments, including efforts to increase UMKM involvement in the MBG supply chain.

“This means that, alongside involving UMKM businesses, we are also placing emphasis on building the supply-chain ecosystem,” he concluded.