Free meal program to focus on remote areas, priority groups: BGN

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program will focus on underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas, as well as priority groups like pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and under-fives.

This was confirmed by the newly appointed head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, during a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.

"After discussions with experts, the most effective nutritional intervention is from the first month of pregnancy up to nine years of age, or primary school. That is the window we are targeting now," she said.

She noted that her agency has issued a circular warning that Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) or MBG kitchens failing to serve the priority groups will be suspended.

Meanwhile, alternative implementation schemes are being prepared for constructing the kitchens in the 3T regions to avoid straining the state budget.

She stated that BGN Deputy Head Major General Trenggono will lead MBG development in those areas, leveraging his expertise in territorial operations.

Following the internal consolidation of the BGN, Nanik affirmed that the agency has prepared a work plan focused on budget efficiency without compromising the targets or quality of the meals.

This year, the allocated budget for the program is set at Rp268 trillion (approximately US$14.8 billion).

In its efficiency effort, she explained, the agency is taking three measures: refocusing target beneficiaries, implementing a moratorium on new kitchen sites, and upgrading existing and operational kitchens to ensure they meet standards.

The BGN head warned that kitchens failing to meet the standard operating procedures will be suspended.

Targeting 82.9 million beneficiaries nationwide, the MBG program was launched in early 2025 to improve the nutritional status of children under five, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and schoolchildren up to the high school level.

Related news: Prabowo presses for integrity, accountability in free meal program

Related news: MBG huge investment in human capital, backs village economy: Prabowo

Related news: Ex-nutrition agency chiefs suspected in massive procurement markup

Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Raka Adji

Editor: Azis Kurmala

Copyright © ANTARA 2026