A number of experts have advised the government to conduct periodic evaluations, research and long-term studies on the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program following the ballooning budget, which is estimated to reach Rp 300 trillion by 2026.

It is feared that this large budget will further burden economic conditions if the allocation is not on target.

Professor of Agribusiness at Lampung University (Unila), Bustanul Arifin, questioned whether or not the MBG program had an impact on the community.

"Evaluation is important for the sustainability of the MBG program, do not let the large disbursement of funds cannot be felt by the community," Bustanul told SUAR in Jakarta, Wednesday (13/8).

The same thing was conveyed by Professor and former Director of WHO Southeast Asia Communicable Diseases for the 2018-2020 period, Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama. He suggested that the government conduct a comprehensive survey of the MBG program.

According to him, this evaluation is important so that the program does not just run, but also has a real impact on beneficiaries.

"Satisfaction surveys need to be conducted regularly, not only for recipient students, but also involving parents, teachers, and food providers," said Tjandra when contacted in Jakarta, Sunday (13/8) as quoted by Antaranews.

The long-term study, he said, is to monitor the changes and impacts of the MBG program since its inception until the next few years.

He emphasized that the aspects that must be studied include four main pillars: nutrition, health, education and economy.

"This kind of research does take years for the results to be valid, but the data collection process must be done consistently and according to scientific methods," he said.

With a comprehensive evaluation approach, Tjandra hopes that the MBG program can continue to be improved and developed to truly address the needs of the community.

Previously, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that the budget for the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program could reach Rp 300 trillion by 2026.

This means that the MBG budget has almost doubled from this year's budget allocation, which totals IDR 171 trillion and targets 82.9 million beneficiaries.

"This year's MBG reached Rp 71 trillion and there is an additional reserve of Rp 100 trillion, next year if there are 82 million beneficiaries, then Rp 300 trillion is needed," he said at the National Sharia Economic Workshop Reflecting on Indonesian Independence 2025 in Jakarta on (13/8) which was broadcast online.

With this budget, he hopes to generate a large amount of economic activity. In this case, the involvement of UMKM players is needed for the implementation of the MBG program. He also encouraged the involvement of Islamic boarding schools and halal industry players to be actively involved in the MBG program.

Sri Mulyani emphasized that the government uses APBN instruments to finance a number of development programs and social protection. Including to finance government priority programs such as MBG, public school construction, and the construction of three million houses.

Major economic impact

Although it raises concerns, the Prabowo Subianto administration's ambitious program must be recognized as also having a considerable economic impact.

Bustanul Arifin gave an example when the program, which has been carried out since May 2024, is carried out with a collaboration mechanism between UMKM and online transportation service driver partners.

Based on the results of the pilot project, he said, the estimated multiplier effect of the MBG program shows a large economic impact.

"The MBG program trial has had a positive impact on the community, but its implementation in the field needs to be checked," Bustanul said.

On the other hand, Indef Director Esther Sri Astuti explained that the free nutritious meal program (MBG) can have a multiplier effect if managed with the right target.

The program can boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth by up to IDR 14.61 trillion.

Indef's research shows that the allocation of MBG program spending in 2025 can boost GDP growth by 0.06% or Rp14.61 trillion.

Esther added that the MBG program budget can also boost employment growth by 0.19% and boost labor wage growth by 0.39%.

The program is also expected to boost import growth and domestic investment.

"Thus, the MBG program to be decentralized uses local food sources and raw materials so that distribution costs are cheaper, reduce the value of imports, and improve the welfare of farmers and UMKM," Esther explained.

The program under the management of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is one of the mainstays as well as included in the 8 best quick results programs of the Prabowo Subianto administration to build superior human resources (HR) as the foundation of the Golden Indonesia 2045.

Among Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia is the 8th country to provide free nutritious meals to children, after Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Timor Leste and Brunei Darussalam.

To ensure the nutritional adequacy of the MBG, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) sets nutrition composition standards. Furthermore, nutritionists will develop a standard monthly menu according to the specified nutritional composition which will then be processed and distributed by SPPG.

Head of BGN Dadan Hindayana, on several occasions, said that in each service unit there must be one nutritionist who then formulates a menu with the same nutritional composition, although the menu is adjusted to local tastes and with available local resources.

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) noted that the realization of the state budget for the MBG program as of 11 August reached Rp 8.2 trillion, which includes the establishment of 5,103 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) in 38 provinces and a total of more than 15 million beneficiaries.

Facility upgrades

Deputy Chairperson of Commission IX of the House of Representatives, Nihayatul Wafiroh, mentioned that some of the old kitchens do not have vital facilities such as large-capacity refrigerators and generators.

"If the power goes out and the refrigerator dies, food ingredients can quickly spoil or rot. This is not a trivial matter, especially for the service of thousands of portions every day," he said in a DPR release received by SUAR.

According to him, this difference in facilities creates inequality in the quality of nutrition services. In fact, kitchens with complete equipment can maintain the quality of food ingredients better than those that lack supporting facilities. As a result, nutrition and food safety standards can differ between regions.

 "The minimum facilities that every kitchen should have include generators, refrigerators, and dry storage equipment," he said.

Ninik added that these needs should be part of the regular budget, not just an add-on if there are extra funds.

He also reminded that the presence of support facilities can help kitchens deal with emergency situations, such as natural disasters or prolonged power outages, which can hamper food distribution.

"If you want the quality of food to be maintained, all kitchens must have the same and adequate facilities. No one should be left behind," he says.