January 29, 2026 | 01:25 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan stated that the Nutritious Free Meals (MBG) program will continue throughout Ramadan with specific adjustments to the snack offerings.
"For fasting Muslims, dry food will be provided, while schools with non-fasting students will receive meals as usual," he said during a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
He explained that the distribution of MBG during Ramadan will be tailored according to the type of beneficiaries. MBG distribution for public schools with Muslim students will take place during the day, consisting of dry food items. Meanwhile, the menu and distribution schedule will remain unchanged for schools with non-fasting students, as well as for pregnant women and toddlers.
For Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), MBG distribution will be carried out in the afternoon prior to the breaking of the fast. "Only the timing is adjusted; only general high schools with Muslim students will receive dry food, while the others remain the same," said the National Mandate Party politician.
The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, noted that the dry food selection includes dates, processed eggs, such as boiled, salted, or pickled varieties, fruits, milk, and shredded meat.
Regarding the timing of the MBG distribution, Dadan mentioned that it will be provided when students return home from school. "This is to be served as the menu for breaking the fast," he said.
To date, the National Nutrition Agency has recorded that the number of beneficiaries has reached 60 million people. Meanwhile, the number of nutrition service fulfillment units (SPGG) or MBG kitchens has reached 22,091 units, employing a total of 924,424 individuals.
Coordinating Minister Zulkifli stated that this comprehensive program has absorbed thousands of direct laborers. For instance, he mentioned that SPGG staff currently being processed to become government employees with work agreements (PPPK) have reached 32,000 people.
Meanwhile, there are 21,413 MBG partners and 68,551 MSME entrepreneurs serving as MBG suppliers. Zulhas, as he is commonly known, estimates that there are 30 workers employed by each MSME MBG supplier. "The supplier is an MSME; how many people are employed there? At least 20 or 30," he said, concluding that the program positively impacts employment through the absorption of direct labor.
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