MBG Kitchen Must Use Commercial Materials, Prohibited from Using Melon Gas, Minyakita and SPHP Rice

JAKARTA - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) prohibits all kitchens of the Free Nutritional Meal (MBG) Program or Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) from using subsidized goods, such as MinyaKita, 3 kilogram LPG, and rice Stabilization of Food Supply and Prices (SPHP). All food providers are required to use commercial raw materials so that government subsidies remain targeted.

Head of BGN Sudaryono emphasized that the ban applies to all MBG kitchens in Indonesia. According to him, the use of subsidized goods in the MBG program is not in line with the government's goal of distributing subsidies to eligible people.

"No! You can't cook for MBG using MinyaKita, you can't use 3-kilo melon gas, and you can't use our SPHP rice. No!" said Sudaryono at a press conference at the BGN Office, Central Jakarta, Monday, July 27.

Sudaryono explained that all food needs in the MBG program must be met through commercial purchasing mechanisms so as not to reduce the allocation of subsidized goods for low-income people.

In addition, he said the MBG program was also designed to maintain the stability of the prices of agricultural and livestock commodities at the producer level.

For example, Sudaryono mentioned the price of chicken eggs which had fallen far below the Government Reference Price (HAP). In this condition, all MBG kitchen heads are still asked to buy eggs according to HAP so that farmers do not suffer losses.

"The price of eggs, which should be Rp. 25,000 in the cage, has dropped to Rp. 12,000 to Rp. 15,000. So the head of the kitchen must buy eggs at the government's reference price so that farmers are not harmed," he said.

According to Sudaryono, the MBG program not only aims to provide nutritious food for beneficiaries, but also serves as a government instrument in maintaining the balance of food supply and prices at the producer level.

With this policy, BGN hopes that the welfare of farmers and livestock farmers will be maintained, while preventing food commodity prices from falling below levels that are detrimental to business actors in the agricultural and livestock sectors.

"This MBG also serves as a supply stabilizer and price stabilizer at the lowest level, so that farmers and livestock farmers are not harmed," concluded Sudaryono.