National Nutrition Agency Reports Budget Efficiency for Free Nutritious Meals Programme to Palace

Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Nanik Sudaryati Deyang announced she would report on budget efficiency measures for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme to President Prabowo Subianto. Nanik arrived at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday at approximately 2:20 p.m. Western Indonesian Time. She stated she would deliver a report on the budget efficiency being implemented by the BGN. “Efficiency, budget efficiency. Good news, so that it comes down,” said Nanik. However, Nanik was unable to provide further details regarding the amount of the budget that would be reduced. “I’ll report to the President first,” she concluded. The government is known to have cut the spending ceiling for the MBG programme in the 2026 fiscal year State Budget (APBN) from the initial Rp335 trillion to Rp268 trillion. In today’s meeting with President Prabowo, it is hoped the Rp268 trillion budget can be further reduced. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa previously reported that the realised budget for the Free Nutritious Meals programme through May 2026 reached Rp88.15 trillion, an increase of 17.53 per cent compared to the April 2026 figure of Rp75 trillion. In detail, out of the total beneficiaries, 48.9 million are students, while 14.3 million are non-students, comprising pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers.