National Nutrition Agency to Launch Marketplace for Free Nutritious Meal Programme, Seven Commodities Prioritised
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is initiating the creation of a marketplace for food raw materials used in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Programme to ensure ingredient safety, particularly for seven priority commodities.
During a meeting with Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Thursday, the Head of BGN, Sudaryorono, revealed that the seven priority ingredients include rice, cooking oil, chicken, eggs, meat, fish, and milk.
“Why is this important? Because these animal proteins require special handling. If handled incorrectly, it can lead to health issues, and our target of achieving good nutrition will not be met,” he said.
Sudaryono cited the handling of broiler chicken as an example, noting that not all distributors maintain the same management standards. He observed that some distributors define ‘fresh’ as being delivered chilled, while others define it as being newly slaughtered.
Furthermore, regarding rice procurement, Sudaryono prohibited the use of Food Supply and Price Stabilisation (SPHP) rice as a raw material for the MBG programme.
He stated that purchasing raw materials through a marketplace could serve as a preventative measure against malpractice by Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG). “The shopping will be done through a system so there is no more ‘hanky-panky’, no more kickbacks, and no more buying low-quality goods while claiming they are high-quality just to take a profit,” Sudaryono added.
The Head of BGN admitted that the creation of this marketplace was inspired by the School Procurement Information System (SIPLah), which is used by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for school procurement using School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds.
The BGN will also implement a verified seller mechanism, managed by associations, within the marketplace. “We are adopting a system that is already operational, and there will be zoning. We have invited associations for egg producers, chicken producers, and others, and their response has been positive,” said Sudaryono.