Zulhas: Free Nutritious Meals and Village Co-ops Show State's Commitment to the People

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan has affirmed that the flagship programmes under President Prabowo’s administration represent the state’s commitment to the Indonesian people. The Food Self-Sufficiency programme demonstrates this commitment by empowering farmers and boosting their welfare. This is also pursued through the 2,000 Merah Putih Fishing Villages programme, which aims to enhance fishermen’s productivity by constructing 40,000 biofloc systems—a fish farming method that utilises microorganisms in the feeding process and feed waste treatment.

Through the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) are required to source MBG food supplies from local villages in cooperation with Village Cooperatives (Kopdes) and Village-Owned Enterprises (Bumdes), thereby absorbing village food production. Specifically, the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives are targeted to reach 80,000 units, with an initial phase of 40,000 units to be completed by September 2025. Hasan assured that their operational function will not resemble that of a supermarket. Among the tasks of the Kopdes are distributing social assistance to ensure it is precisely targeted, channelling subsidised fertiliser and subsidised gas, and providing low-cost credit for rural communities.

Zulhas also emphasised the importance of Waste-to-Energy Processing (PSEL) to convert waste into green electricity while simultaneously tackling waste problems that also impact the food sector. By cutting regulatory barriers that have stalled progress for 11 years, the programme is targeted to be operational in 72 locations by 2027-2028.