National Nutrition Agency Clarifies: Nutritious Meal Budget Rp 8,000–10,000 per Serving, Not Rp 15,000

The Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, affirmed that the allocated budget for the nutritious meal programme is set at Rp 8,000-10,000 per serving, not Rp 15,000. This statement was made in response to widespread discussions on social media regarding the nutritious meal programme (MBG) during Ramadan, which were deemed to deviate from the budget guidelines. Nanik explained that the budget of Rp 13,000 for toddlers up to grade 3 of primary school, and Rp 15,000 for students in grade 4 and above, as well as for breastfeeding mothers, is not entirely used for food ingredients. A portion of the budget is allocated for operational needs and incentives for the foundations or implementing partners. Scroll down to continue reading “Therefore, we would like to reiterate that the budget for food ingredients for toddlers/early childhood education/kindergarten/Islamic kindergarten, as well as primary school/Islamic primary school students in grades 1-3, is Rp 8,000 per serving. Meanwhile, for primary school/Islamic primary school students in grades 4 and above, as well as for breastfeeding mothers, the budget for food ingredients is Rp 10,000 per serving,” Nanik said in a written statement on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Nanik explained that, in addition to food ingredients, the MBG budget also includes operational costs of Rp 3,000 per serving. This fund is used for various supporting needs, including electricity, internet, gas, water, incentives for SPPG (School Nutrition Improvement Programme) worker volunteers, and incentives for teachers in charge of the MBG at schools, as well as vehicle incentives. Furthermore, the operational fund of Rp 3,000 also covers BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (Workers Social Security) for volunteers, incentives for posyandu (integrated health service post) cadres who distribute food to the 3B (pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and babies), the purchase of personal protective equipment and hygiene supplies, payment for MBG vehicle fuel, and the operation of the SPPG head and team. Meanwhile, a budget allocation of Rp 2,000 per serving is used for the rental of land and buildings, including the kitchen, four warehouses, two staff rooms, the construction of an IPAL (integrated wastewater treatment plant), water filtration, and the rental of modern cooking equipment, ranging from steam rice cookers, steam sterilizers, stoves, refrigerators, chillers, freezers, pots, to the rental of sterilizers. In the latest technical guidelines 401, Nanik said, the budget of Rp 2,000 per serving is categorised as an incentive for SPPG facilities provided by partners, amounting to Rp 6 million per day, assuming that each SPPG serves 3,000 beneficiaries. However, Nanik said, the BGN (National Nutrition Agency) remains open to feedback and reports if there are indications that the MBG menu is below the allocated budget. “Every report will be followed up on professionally, objectively, and in accordance with the applicable supervision procedures, to ensure that the implementation of the MBG programme runs in accordance with the established guidelines and standards.” The MBG during Ramadan is distributed in the form of ready-to-eat meals or packaged meals, which are distributed in bundles for a three-day ration. The distribution of the MBG during the fasting month became a topic of discussion on social media after the meals provided were considered substandard. Several schools and parents shared the MBG menu on their social media accounts. Some of the menu items served included two boxes of packaged milk, dates, fruit, and several pieces of unbranded bread without an expiration date. Editor’s Choice: A Series of BGN Guidelines on Ramadan MBG