Zulhas: If Children Are Malnourished, They Will Be Sleepy in School
Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) discussed the free nutritious meals (MBG) programme. He stated that children will be sleepy in school if their nutrition is inadequate.
This was conveyed by Zulhas at the inauguration of the Indonesian Association of Free Nutritious Meals Entrepreneurs and Managers (APPMBGI) in East Jakarta on Sunday (26/4/2026). Zulhas said the MBG programme is expected to help improve the nutrition of Indonesian children.
“If they are well-nourished, their bodies will be perfect, their brains will be perfect, then our children will be able to follow education no matter how advanced or rigorous it is, so they can compete with other countries,” said Zulhas, who attended the event virtually.
He stated that changing the curriculum alone is not enough. He mentioned that children’s nutrition affects their school performance.
“No matter how great our education is, no matter how many times we change the curriculum, if our children are not well-nourished, they will be sleepy in school. They will not be able to compete with other countries because their abilities will certainly be limited if our children are malnourished,” said Zulhas.
He hopes that MBG managers are not measured solely by numbers. He said the Coordinating Ministry for Food will further regulate MBG governance.
“We have already arranged the governance so that there will be synergy between SPPG, existing businesses in the village, whether BUMDes, UMKM, or the Red White Village Cooperative. This is a concern for all of us because this is a very important mission,” said Zulhas.
Zulhas stated that the government is also targeting food self-sufficiency. He said village cooperatives will continue to be developed.
“The continuation will certainly be food self-sufficiency, then there will be village cooperatives, cooperatives, village economic development, so we hope that villages can become centres of economic growth,” he said.
Deputy for Food Affordability and Security at the Coordinating Ministry for Food, Nani Hendiarti, said her side has prepared a ministerial regulation on supply chain governance. The hope is that this governance can strengthen the local economy.
“For that, we are also drafting the ministerial regulation, but indeed we have started, ladies and gentlemen, on how to create this food supply chain or ensure it, because if there are no food ingredients, the programme cannot run. And it is hoped that the food supplies come from local sources,” she explained.
General Chairman of APPMBGI Abdul Rivai Ras said his side has inaugurated the Regional Board of Management. He targets there will be 514 managers in regencies/cities to strengthen the MBG programme.
“We want to ensure the continuity of food, the continuity of MBG governance going forward. Not stopping in 2029 alone, but we hope this becomes a big concept, even if necessary, backed by a law as the umbrella for the implementation or execution of free nutritious meals,” he said.