Coordinating Minister For Food Says It Takes 82.9 Million Protein Portions Every Day For MBG

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan revealed that the 2026 Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program requires 82.9 million protein servings per day. This need is in line with the number of beneficiaries.

For example, he said, if the portion of food prepared presents protein in the form of eggs, 82.9 million eggs are needed.

Likewise with chicken meat, 82.9 million pieces of chicken are needed to meet the needs of the MBG program in one day.

"If the Minister of Marine Affairs later uses fish, then we need 82.9 million pieces of fish. If we need chicken, we need 82.9 million pieces of chicken per day, fruit, vegetables, rice," he said at the 2025 National Fish Day Peak event which was held in Jakarta, Sunday, November 23.

Zulhas, as he is familiarly called, said that the burden of such a large demand has made the national food sector currently in the production race.

Without acceleration, he said, the balance of supply and demand would be disrupted and potentially trigger price increases.

"We are also now racing food, working hard so that we can also fulfill what is needed. Of course, if it's not normal, we can measure the market, if there is a lot of demand, production will definitely increase the price," he said.

Zulhas said, this year the government prioritizes self-sufficiency in fish proteins, given the vast variety of Indonesian marine products.

"This year we focus on being able to self-sufficient in fish protein. Fish is wide, there are fish, there are squid, there are shrimp and so on," he said.

He also emphasized that the MBG program requires food arrangement that pays attention to the diversity of eating cultures in each region.

Indonesia is diverse, in Papua the food is different, in Sumatra it may like fish but in Java it may like to be different. In other Eastern Indonesia and we are currently managing this, we will show you later how diverse Indonesian food is," he explained.

Realizing the magnitude of the challenge, Zulhas compared Indonesia's journey with Brazil which took 15 years to develop a food aid system for 40 million people.

"We have only been around for one year, so we continue to want improvements so that this meal will change the civilization of Indonesia," he said.