President: Implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal Programme Stimulates Village Economies

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto stated that the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) plays a role in stimulating the economy at the village level, including ensuring the sale of commodities produced by local producers.

During the inauguration of the operational activities of 1,061 Merah Putih Village/Urban Cooperatives in Nganjuk Regency, East Java, which was monitored online from Jakarta on Saturday, the President said that approximately IDR 900 million per month, or at least IDR 10.8 billion per year, is circulating in villages as a result of the implementation of the MBG.

“There is IDR 10.8 billion circulating in the village; previously, before the MBG, we allocated IDR 1 billion in village funds, and with the MBG, we are adding IDR 10 billion,” said Prabowo.

In addition to the circulation of funds at the village level, local producers, such as farmers, livestock breeders, and traders, also benefit from the implementation of the MBG throughout Indonesia.

“In one village, IDR 10.8 billion is circulating, which means that those who cultivate catfish can sell their produce, those who grow shallots can sell them, those who make tempeh can sell it, and those who sell eggs can sell them. All producers in the village will thrive,” added the President.

Prabowo added that by using products from producers at the village level, the costs incurred for logistics to purchase raw materials can be reduced.

Producers are guaranteed with the presence of buyers who need their commodities, and the managers of the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) do not have to incur costs to shop at the market.

“This is the impact of the MBG; hundreds of trillions of rupiah will circulate in villages, urban areas, and regencies,” said Prabowo.

This is very different from the hundreds of trillions of rupiah used in the free market mechanism, where large capital owners will dominate, and people’s money will be drained.

Therefore, the President emphasised that the MBG, together with the Merah Putih Village/Urban Cooperatives, will revive the Indonesian economy, starting from the lowest level.

“Now, I think, honestly, village heads and regents have begun to feel it. In the future, they will feel it even more,” said Prabowo Subianto.