Prabowo Stresses Free Nutritious Meals Programme Vital to Tackle Hunger

President Prabowo Subianto has emphasised that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme is crucial for addressing hunger and meeting the nutritional needs of the public, especially children.

Speaking at the peak of the XVII National Week of the Andalan Farmers and Fishers Contact (PENAS KTNA) 2026 in Gorontalo, as monitored from an official broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta on Wednesday, Prabowo said: "There are also those who disagree with MBG. Those who disagree with MBG should come here. Ask these farmers and fishers. Is MBG necessary or not? Ask the children, is MBG necessary or not?"

The President stated that food needs are a fundamental issue that must be the government’s focus. "There are supposedly clever people who say there are things more urgent than a hungry stomach. I think there is nothing more urgent than a hungry stomach. If a hungry person’s stomach is not filled immediately, they will die," he said.

According to him, the number of people experiencing hunger worldwide is increasing, so every country needs to strengthen its domestic food security. He noted that Indonesia is currently in a better position because national food production has increased and is beginning to record surpluses in several commodities.

The President mentioned that this condition allows Indonesia to assist other countries in need of food supplies or fertiliser. In addition to improving the nutritional quality of the public, the MBG programme is also considered capable of supporting the absorption of domestic agricultural and fishery products.

Prabowo stressed that the government will continue to maintain national food security as part of efforts to protect the public from the threat of a global food crisis.