Mataram, Indonesianpost.com – The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) provincial government has announced plans to establish 450 community kitchens as part of Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, aiming to serve over 1.3 million students across 10,474 schools.
NTB Regional Secretary Lalu Gita Ariadi confirmed the target during a virtual coordination meeting with district and city officials on Friday, which was also attended by National Nutrition Agency (BGN) expert Bobby Kusuma.
“The kitchens will be fully state-funded to support President Prabowo Subianto’s goal of reaching 83 million beneficiaries nationwide, including children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers,” Ariadi stated.
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Local governments have been instructed to finalize proposed kitchen locations by May 30, 2025, with the provincial government overseeing implementation. The project is slated for completion by September 2024.
Kusuma emphasized strict site requirements: plots must span at least 800 square meters, avoid proximity to landfills, lie within 20 minutes of schools, and have stable utilities and three-meter-wide access roads.
“This initiative will stimulate local food economies while addressing malnutrition,” he added, highlighting the program’s dual focus on welfare and regional development.
The MBG program marks a key component of Indonesia’s strategy to improve nutrition and education outcomes through state-subsidized meals. (BL/Antara)