Deputy Chairman Of Indonesian Chamber Of Commerce And Industry: MBG Is A Great Opportunity For Local Entrepreneurs To Meet The Needs Of SPPG Raw Materials

JAKARTA - The Free Nutrition Food Program (MBG) which is being rolled out has proven to have a significant positive impact on economic movement at the village level and open up massive new market opportunities, especially for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as the livestock and agricultural sectors.

Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for Livestock, Cecep Muhammad Wahyudin, in an interview emphasized that the impact of this program is extraordinary on the community, especially for the business world at the local level.

"From the distribution of the SPPG (Witness Fulfillment Service Unit) throughout Indonesia to the rural level, the MBG is driving the village economy tremendously," said Cecep, Friday, December 12.

According to Cecep, the MBG program creates a definite captive market or exclusive market for local producers. Based on calculation simulations, Cecep mentioned that one SPPG serving an average of 4,000 people per day, with an estimated expenditure per serving of Rp. 9,000, has a circulation of raw daily expenditure money of around Rp. 36 million per day.

"This is a captive market for the community. Of course we cannot fulfill all of this from the city. Of course we buy through suppliers around the SPPG," he explained.

The sector that felt the most positive impact was agriculture, with significant growth. Meanwhile, for livestock, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is taking strategic steps.

"Today what is most needed is eggs and chickens, it is hoped that people's breeders or independent breeders will rise again," said Cecep.

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry together with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, are working together to develop the Red and White Village Cooperative to enter the livestock industry, especially laying and broilers.

"This may be an opportunity that can be taken not only by the Red and White Kopdes but also by MSMEs, or maybe the younger generation who are interested in this industry," added Cecep.

In addition, the social impact of this program is also very pronounced. Cecep highlighted the job opportunities created for small communities. To become a volunteer at the SPPG, it can be accepted to work without having to be burdened with educational background. Usually these volunteers are recruited from residents around the SPPG operating from mothers to young people.

The success story came from Tino Riantino, a SPPG partner located in Cibuntu Village, Taraju District, Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java. Since becoming a partner, SPPG in his area has succeeded in creating jobs and empowering the local community and youth.

"We are indeed required (the National Nutrition Agency -red) to recruit volunteers from the local environment," said Tino.

Tino also added that the SPPG Cibuntu kitchen volunteers he manages are the majority of young people. With the presence of SPPG in this area, they now have better income than before when they worked as construction workers in the city or in plantations in Cibuntu Village, Taraju, which was deemed less financially attractive.

SPPG Cibuntu has also established close cooperation with local farmers, market traders, and youth organizations to create a strong economic ecosystem. Tino explained that the existence of the SPPG aims to make the benefits felt by the entire ecosystem in the village, acting as a new market for farmers.

"Until now, 85% of the food needs have been met from around the SPPG area," said Tino.

This initiative even encourages changes in the growing pattern in the area. Especially for fruits, which were previously still imported from outside the Taraju region, now local farmers have started working together to plant fruits so that the results can be absorbed directly by SPPG in the future.

"SPPG is a very strategic bridge for them and we facilitate it, and thank God, to this day SPPG Cibuntu can make a positive contribution," explained Tino.

One of the things that should be followed by SPPG Cibuntu, they also run the CSR program in the form of distributing school facilities and infrastructure to orphans and orphans in the school environment. This illustrates the benefits of MBG and the existence of SPPG in an area has now turned into an economic social pulse that is important for local residents around it.