Regarding Fresh Rice for 4 Months, BGN is Committed to Maintaining Rice Quality in the MBG Program

BOGOR - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has confirmed its commitment to maintaining the quality of rice in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program, responding to SEAMEO BIOTROP's proposal regarding the use of "fresh rice" with a maximum shelf life of four months.

Head of BGN, Dadan Hindayana, said that his party prioritized strengthening the local supply chain to ensure that the food consumed by the community remains in excellent condition.

"Regarding the procurement of rice, we are trying to use local food resources through the local supply chain. If the local supply chain is not enough, we suggest that the rice should use the standard to be premium," Dadan said at a press conference in Bogor City, Saturday, February 28.

According to him, this approach is important so that the rice distributed in the MBG program does not lose nutritional quality due to too long storage.

Previously, the Director of SEAMEO BIOTROP, Edi Santoso, encouraged Indonesia to switch from polished rice that is low in nutrients to fresh rice. He assessed that excessive polishing to achieve a clean white appearance actually removes the most valuable part, namely the embryo or the eyes of the rice.

"In other countries, the rice eye (embryo) part is very valuable. In fact, the best substances are actually not from the sap of the rice, but from the embryo. But in our place, it is thrown away," said Edi.

Edi said the MBG program was a strategic momentum to improve national nutritional quality through more stringent and transparent rice logistics cycle arrangements. He assessed that the economic use of new rice remained rational as long as stock management was carried out openly.

"It is very natural and economical. It's just a matter of regulating the cycle, from using old rice to new rice. The result? Stunting can be greatly reduced," he said.

He also emphasized the importance of transparency in national food stock data, which is said to reach 33 million tons, so that distribution does not make the Leading, Outer, and Lagging (3T) regions always receive old rice.

A clear mapping between local consumption, government warehouses, and the private sector is considered crucial to ensure equitable access to fresh rice throughout the region.