Realisation of Free Nutritious Meals Budget Reaches Rp 70.2 Trillion

The Ministry of Finance reports that as of 27 April 2026, the realisation of the budget for the free nutritious meals (MBG) programme has reached Rp 70.2 trillion. This figure represents 20.9% of the MBG fund allocation set at Rp 335 trillion for this year.

The latest MBG budget realisation was presented in a PowerPoint slide released by the Ministry of Finance on Thursday, 30 April 2026. The use of MBG funds has risen significantly compared to 31 March 2026, when it was recorded at Rp 55.3 trillion.

According to the latest release from the Ministry of Finance, the distribution of nutritious meals as of 27 April 2026 has reached 61.96 million recipients, consisting of 48.9 million students and 13.1 million non-students. The number of MBG recipients has increased slightly from March, which recorded 61.8 million people.

Meanwhile, the number of kitchens, or Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), as of 27 April 2026, stands at 27,735 SPPG. This figure has also risen compared to the previous month, which recorded around 25,000 SPPG.

The substantial MBG budget in 2026 is used to pursue a target of 82.9 million beneficiaries. The funds for the programme this year have surged significantly compared to last year’s allocation of Rp 71 trillion. However, last year’s MBG budget was not fully absorbed.

As of 31 December 2025, the Ministry of Finance reported that only 72.5% of the MBG funds were utilised against the target. This means that out of Rp 71 trillion, only Rp 51 trillion was absorbed throughout last year.

Amidst budget efficiency measures for ministries and agencies, the government has stated that it will not cut MBG funds this year. Nevertheless, Deputy Minister of Finance Juda Agung said the government is also conducting refocusing, or budget reallocation. One of them is by eliminating the provision of nutritious meals on Saturdays.

Juda stated that this effort could save around Rp 1 trillion in one day. “For MBG, for example, previously free lunches were provided on Saturdays, but now that has been eliminated. One day can save one trillion,” said Juda during a Policy Dialogue session at the Kick Off Acceleration of Indonesia’s Intermediation (PINISI) event in Jakarta on Monday, 27 April 2026.

This policy is quite reasonable because students do not need to come to school. Thus, there is a saving of Rp 4 trillion in a month.