MBG Program Boosts Local Farmers' Income, Singgih Januratmoko Supports Sustainability
The Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) and member of the Golkar Party, Singgih Januratmoko, supports the sustainability of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. He believes the programme is not only vital for meeting public nutritional needs but also carries significant economic impacts for poultry farmers and food-related SMEs in various regions.
Singgih assesses that the continuity of the MBG programme can create a more predictable market for local livestock products, particularly chicken meat and eggs. With relatively measurable demand from this government programme, farmers will gain market certainty, which can help suppress price volatility at the producer level.
“Behind this programme lies a very large economic ecosystem, ranging from broiler farmers, layer farmers, SMEs, cooperatives, and distributors, to local labour,” Singdem stated in his remarks on Thursday (10/09/2026).
According to him, one of the persistent issues faced by small-scale farmers is the fluctuation in chicken and egg prices. When production is abundant while market absorption is limited, prices at the farmer level can drop, sometimes falling below economically viable levels.
He noted that if the absorption of chicken and egg products increases consistently through the MBG, it could serve as an instrument to maintain the balance between supply and demand. “Farmers will not constantly find themselves in a situation where prices crash during periods of high production,” he said.
Singgih emphasised that the economic benefits of the MBG will be even greater if the supply chain provides adequate space for small-scale farmers and local SMEs. He argued that the government must ensure that the procurement of food ingredients for MBG kitchens is not concentrated solely among large corporations.
Small-scale farmers, cooperatives, farmer groups, Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), and SMEs in the areas receiving the benefits must be given the opportunity to be part of the supply chain. “A programme as large as the MBG must not result in small-scale farmers merely being spectators. There must be a design ensuring that raw materials such as eggs and chicken are absorbed from local farmers as much as possible,” Singgih remarked.
He believes that a region-based procurement pattern could provide dual benefits. In addition to shortening the distribution chain, such an approach ensures that more money circulated through the MBG programme remains within the local regions.
“If MBG kitchens source eggs and chicken from farmers in their surrounding areas, the benefit is not just children receiving nutritious food. Farmers gain a market, SMEs gain employment, distribution is activated, and the regional economy grows,” he concluded.