President Prabowo Subianto has set a bold target to expand the Free Nutritious Meal Program (Makan Bergizi Gratis / MBG) to reach 82.9 million children across Indonesia by the end of 2025. This initiative has been deemed a national priority and urgent matter according to Prabowo, as he recounted a poignant experience during his visit to Central Java where the demand for the program was evident. With a personal anecdote of schoolchildren eagerly requesting nutritious meals, Prabowo was moved to accelerate the program, aiming to reach 20 million children by mid-August. He expressed his belief that by December 2025, the program will benefit the targeted 82.9 million children.
The ambitious effort has garnered global attention, with other nations closely observing Indonesia’s progress. Prabowo highlighted the determination to achieve in one year what took others more than a decade, emphasizing the importance of delivering tangible results to prove the program’s effectiveness. The Free Nutritious Meal Program is a vital component of Prabowo’s broader vision to address child hunger, malnutrition, and learning disparities, with the goal of providing every child with the necessary nourishment to thrive and succeed.
