MBG Program Absorbs 165 Million Farmers: Boosting Indonesia’s Food Ecosystem

Minister of Agriculture and Head of the National Food Agency Andi Amran Sulaiman announced that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program has become an offtaker for the production of approximately 165 million farmers across Indonesia. The announcement was made during a discussion with student executive bodies (BEM) from various universities in Jakarta on May 6, 2026.

The MBG program, a flagship initiative of President Prabowo Subianto, is designed to function as a critical component of the national agricultural ecosystem. By serving as an offtaker, the program directly links the production of farmers to public consumption needs, ensuring that agricultural products are absorbed optimally.

Minister Amran, who was accompanied by the President Director of the state logistics agency Bulog, Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, emphasized that the program provides essential market certainty for farmers. This mechanism is intended to protect producers from the risks of oversupply, which can lead to a depression of prices at the producer level.

According to the Minister, the program should not be viewed in isolation but as a tool to stabilize the agricultural market.

“Don’t see MBG as a standalone program. MBG has become an offtaker for 165 million farmers. I repeat, MBG serves as an offtaker for 165 million Indonesian farmers,”Andi Amran Sulaiman

Beyond market stabilization, the MBG program is intended to drive economic circulation within villages. What we have is achieved by integrating production, distribution, and consumption activities into a single operational chain, which encourages village economic turnover.

The Minister stated that the increasing demand generated by the government program has contributed to growth within both the agricultural and livestock sectors.

Human Resource Development and Beneficiaries

The MBG program targets specific beneficiary groups to foster the development of superior human resources. These groups include pregnant women and school children.

The government aims to improve the nutritional intake of younger generations, with the goal of ensuring they become healthier, smarter, and more productive. This investment in nutrition is framed as a necessary step in preparing a more resilient future generation for the country.

Program Intent and Welfare

Addressing potential interpretations of the program’s timing or purpose, Minister Amran emphasized that the MBG initiative carries no political agenda. He stated that the primary objectives are the improvement of public welfare and the preparation of the nation’s future human resources.