Minister calls MBG focus on disadvantaged regions as priority

Indonesia's Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions has urged the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to prioritize the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program for residents in frontier, underdeveloped, and outermost (3T) areas.

Director General for the Acceleration of Disadvantaged Regions Development Samsul Widodo said the ministry had been communicating with BGN to direct the flagship program toward regions with the greatest needs.

"We are now drafting a letter from the Minister to the BGN chief to emphasize the importance of prioritizing disadvantaged regions," he said during the "Strategy for Accelerating the MBG Program in 3T Regions" forum, which was monitored online from Jakarta on Wednesday.

He noted that 30 districts across Indonesia remain classified as disadvantaged regions, stressing that they warrant special attention in the implementation of the nutrition program.

As an example, Widodo pointed to the insufficient number of MBG kitchens in Central Sumba District, East Nusa Tenggara Province, and several other regions.

Against that backdrop, he reiterated the urgency of expanding the MBG program while taking into account the specific conditions and needs of underserved communities.

BGN earlier announced that it had removed 1,653 educational institutions from the list of MBG recipients, redirecting resources to communities with greater needs, including those in 3T regions.

The BGN Chief, Sudaryono, said the delisted institutions comprised international schools and elite private schools.

He noted that the schools did not rely on operational assistance funds offered by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said the government is prioritizing the activation of 111 MBG kitchens across 3T regions in nine provinces, including six Papuan provinces.

Related news: BGN removes 1,653 elite schools from free meal program

Translator: T.M. Ameliya, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
Copyright © ANTARA 2026