Indonesia's free meals program employs 1.28 million nationwide

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program has continued to generate significant economic impact through job creation and nationwide economic activity, with 1.28 million workers absorbed into the initiative.

The figures were released by the National Nutrition Agency in its latest statistics published on Friday, which showed that the program has involved more than one million workers across 29,225 kitchens, formally known as Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) nationwide.

In an official statement issued in Jakarta on Saturday, the Indonesian Government Communications Office said the data aligned with remarks delivered by President Prabowo Subianto during a plenary session of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

“From the MBG program alone, we have already created 1.2 million new jobs in kitchens. And we are ensuring guaranteed markets and guaranteed offtake for tens of millions of our farmers, livestock breeders, and fishermen,” Prabowo said during the session.

The workers are responsible for preparing nutritious meals for 62.45 million beneficiaries, including students, toddlers, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and Islamic boarding school students. However, the economic impact of the MBG program extends beyond employment generation through the involvement of local businesses in food supply chains and meal distribution.

The National Nutrition Agency recorded 142,387 suppliers participating in the program as of May 22, 2026. Of that number, 59,921 were micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), 13,306 were cooperatives, 690 were Red and White Village/Subdistrict Cooperatives (KDKMP), 1,410 were village-owned enterprises (BUMDes), and 157 were joint village-owned enterprises (BUMDesma).

The remaining 66,903 suppliers came from various categories of food providers and supporting service businesses.

The agency added that the MBG program has helped stimulate the grassroots economy from upstream to downstream by creating sustainable large-scale demand for food commodities.

For example, a single SPPG requires around 200 kilograms of rice per day, or the equivalent of 4.8 tons per month, to serve 3,000 MBG meal portions.

Each SPPG also requires around 2,800 chickens per month, assuming chicken-based meals are served twice a week.

In addition, the agency noted that each SPPG needs around 450 liters of milk per day to provide 3,000 meal portions, with each beneficiary receiving 150 milliliters of milk per serving.