One of the flagship programs of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka − the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) − which has been operational since January 6, 2025, is projected to have a budget increase to Rp420 trillion (US$26 billion).
At the beginning of the campaign, President Prabowo proposed a budget of between Rp400 trillion and Rp450 trillion per year. Initially, MBG financing was planned at Rp15,000 per portion. However, with budget constraints, the cost per portion dropped to Rp10,000 per portion.
Since its initial design, MBG was projected to reach Rp450 trillion per year, this amount is based on the estimated nutritional needs for children in Indonesia, especially to address the high stunting rate which reaches 30 percent.
Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team, said that the figure emerged from Prabowo’s grand vision to ensure that all children, including those who have not yet attended school, have access to proper nutrition.
“Prabowo considers this very important. This fund (Rp450 trillion) is even three times the defense and TNI budget, which is only Rp137 trillion,” Hashim said on December 20, 2024.
Budget constraints
When the program started, the budget allocation in the 2025 State Budget was only Rp71 trillion. This figure has been agreed upon between Sri Mulyani, the Minister of Finance, and Prabowo.
“For the first year of his administration in 2025, an allocation of around Rp71 trillion has been agreed in the 2025 Draft State Budget,” Sri Mulyani said on June 24, 2024.
This program was initially targeted to reach three million beneficiaries in the period from January to March 2025. However, funding this program is full of challenges and complex dynamics.
Iit is projected that the Rp71 trillion fund will only be sufficient until June 2025. The government is planning to add a budget of Rp140 trillion to ensure the sustainability of the program until the end of 2025, so that the total budget reaches Rp210 trillion.
If projected in full, it is estimated that the budget needs could increase to Rp420 trillion. One of the main challenges is the uncertainty of funding sources.
“The government is trying. If the budget is increased by Rp140 trillion in July, then all children can eat with a total fund of Rp210 trillion. If the program runs fully from January to December, it could be more than Rp420 trillion,” Zulkifli Hasan, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, said on January 7, 2025.
Funding source
President Prabowo, amidst limitations, used personal funds to fund free nutritious meal programs in several areas such as Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.
Hasan Nasbi, Head of the Presidential Communications Office, cited that the funding came from the remaining trial budget previously prepared by Prabowo. Once private funds run out, the government will turn to the state budget (APBN), which has allocated Rp71 trillion for the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
The government also encourages the participation of regional administrations (Pemda) through contributions from their respective budgets, as well as inviting parents of students to contribute voluntarily, especially for families who are able.
Ujang Komarudin, Spokesperson for the Presidential Communications Office, revealed that several regional administrations have increased their budget for this program.
