Prabowo Highlights Positive Impact of Free Nutrition Programme and Red and White Village Cooperatives on Boosting Village Economies

President Prabowo Subianto has highlighted the positive impact of the Free Nutrition Programme (MBG) and Red and White Village Cooperatives, despite criticism from various parties.

Prabowo stated that the MBG and Red and White Cooperatives programmes will have a positive impact in the future. He believes that the effects of these two flagship programmes will only be felt in the coming years.

This was conveyed by Prabowo during the inauguration of the operationalisation of 1,061 Red and White Cooperatives in Nganjuk, East Java, on Saturday, 16 May 2026.

“You will see what we are creating in 2025, 2026. Not now, not in 2029, but in 20 years, you will evaluate what we are doing today. We are building fundamental things. We are creating MBG, and it is fundamental,” said Prabowo.

Furthermore, Prabowo added that when the MBG programme and the Red and White Village Cooperatives are running optimally, billions of Rupiah will circulate in the villages.

“This means that every day, money circulates in the villages. 3,000 times Rp15,000, Rp45,000 times 3,000. I repeat, Rp15,000 times 3,000, some more, some less. 3,000 times 15,000, Rp 45 million every day. Every day. And there are 5 days a week, times 4, 20. 20 days times Rp 45 million, that’s Rp 45 million times 20, which is Rp 900 million every month, times 12, 12 times Rp 900 million equals Rp10.8 billion. Yes, Rp10.8 billion circulates in that village,” he said.

He said that the figure of Rp 10.8 billion is the amount of money circulating in the village due to MBG. He said that village funds are indeed used, Rp 500 million for MBG, but, he added, that money will return in 6 years.

“Rp 10.8 billion circulates in that village, whereas before MBG, we sent Rp 1 billion in village funds, with MBG, we add Rp 10 billion. We use the village funds first, Rp 500 million, but it will return in 6 years,” he said.

Prabowo added that this large budget is better allocated to each region for MBG and Red and White Cooperatives. The goal, he said, is to boost the country’s economy.

“If we use what they say, it should be a free market, neoliberal, free market, where large capital will be in power. People’s money will be drained, going out of the country. The excess money will not come back to us. Ladies and gentlemen, MBG combined with the Red and White Village Cooperatives will revive our economy,” he said.