Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal Program to Require Rp 25 Trillion Monthly by September 2025

INDONESIAUPDATES.COM, News En – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has projected a significant budget increase for Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG), with monthly funding needs expected to reach Rp 25 trillion starting September 2025. This estimate is based on the program’s expansion to cover 82.9 million recipients by the end of the year.

Currently, the MBG program serves around 3 million elementary and middle school students, with a budget allocation of Rp 2 trillion per month. Head of BGN, Dadan Hindayana, explained that the current budget is around Rp 1 trillion per month for the existing recipients, but the required funds will rise substantially as the program scales up.

“If the number of recipients increases to 82.9 million, then the budget needs could reach Rp 25 trillion per month,” Dadan stated after attending a coordination meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs on Monday.

The budget increase is scheduled to take effect from September 2025 and will continue until December 2025. According to Dadan, the government has already allocated Rp 71 trillion for 2025 to support the program’s expansion.

“This additional budget is supported by allocated funds that have been prepared. The additional needs per month could reach Rp 25 trillion,” he added.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas), acknowledged that the current MBG budget remains at around Rp 1-2 trillion per month. He noted that the lower budget is due to the ongoing support from MBG kitchen partners, who help provide meals without fully relying on the state budget.

“The preparation has been ongoing for two months. It is estimated that by March, the MBG program can continue operating on a budget of Rp 1-2 trillion per month,” Zulhas stated at a press conference on Monday.

He emphasized that while partnerships with private sector meal providers have helped manage costs, the financial needs of the program will inevitably rise as more recipients are included.

“With the current partnerships, the budget has been relatively low. However, as the number of recipients increases and the budget is finalized, the financial requirements will certainly grow,” he concluded.

The Free Nutritious Meal Program is a key government initiative aimed at improving public health and nutrition, particularly among school-age children. The planned budget expansion signals the government’s commitment to scaling up the program and ensuring wider access to nutritious meals across Indonesia.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG)

1. What is the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG)? The MBG program is a government initiative aimed at providing free nutritious meals to millions of Indonesians, particularly school-age children, to improve public health and nutrition.

2. How many recipients does the program currently serve? As of early 2025, the program serves around 3 million elementary and middle school students.

3. How many recipients are expected by the end of 2025? The government plans to expand the program to reach 82.9 million recipients by the end of 2025.

4. How much is the current budget for the MBG program? The current budget for the MBG program is approximately Rp 1-2 trillion per month.

5. How much funding will be required once the program is fully expanded? Starting in September 2025, the program is expected to require Rp 25 trillion per month to accommodate the increased number of recipients.

6. Where will the funding come from? The government has allocated Rp 71 trillion for 2025 to support the program’s expansion, supplemented by partnerships with private-sector meal providers.

7. When will the increased budget take effect? The additional budget allocation will begin in September 2025 and continue through December 2025.

8. Why has the budget been relatively low so far? The current lower budget is due to partnerships with MBG kitchen providers who help supply meals without relying entirely on state funds.

9. Who is responsible for implementing the MBG program? The program is managed by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) in coordination with the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs and other government institutions.

10. What are the long-term goals of the MBG program? The MBG program aims to reduce malnutrition, improve food security, and ensure equitable access to nutritious meals for millions of Indonesians, particularly children and vulnerable communities.

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