Prabowo: Many Countries Learning MBG from Indonesia
President Prabowo Subianto claims that the free nutritious meals programme, or MBG, which he has championed in Indonesia, is capturing the world’s attention. The Gerindra Party Chairman stated that many countries are now endeavouring to study the free meals project in the country.
Prabowo said that MBG in Indonesia is already running on a massive scale and successfully. “Where is there a country that can feed more than 60 million people, five times a week? From pregnant mothers to helpless elderly, we deliver the meals,” he said in Cilacap, Central Java, on Wednesday, 29 April 2026, as broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat.
Prabowo assessed that almost no other country can provide free meals on the scale of Indonesia. “Show me, which country? Perhaps China, but we know China has already taken off ahead of us,” he added.
Therefore, Prabowo urged Indonesians not to feel inferior. “We should not be a nation that feels inferior. Always thinking foreign nations are great. Many countries are now learning MBG from us,” he said.
According to the former defence minister, MBG functions as a new economic driver through the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) or MBG community kitchens. In this scheme, he said, the government acts as a guaranteed buyer or offtaker to absorb farmers’ and fishermen’s harvests.
The Prabowo administration continues to accelerate the realisation of the MBG project for around 82 million beneficiaries. Various measures are being taken to meet the target as soon as possible.
Most recently, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), responsible for MBG, has asked universities to participate in opening SPPGs. BGN Head Dadan Hindayana stated that campuses have a strategic role in supporting the success of President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programme.
Therefore, Dadan requested that campuses build and manage SPPGs independently, while also turning them into practical learning centres. “I think campuses need to understand this because it is a great opportunity. At minimum, have one SPPG first, and if possible, the supplies come from the academic community itself,” Dadan said at the U25 State University Legal Entity (PTN-BH) Forum in Makassar on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, as quoted from a press release.
Dadan reasoned that the great need for food production in the MBG programme could be an opportunity for campuses to integrate academic activities and field practices. He explained that each SPPG requires substantial food production support. For example, to meet the needs of one SPPG, at least 8 hectares of rice fields are needed for rice supply, and around 19 hectares of maize land to support livestock feed requirements.