TNI AD Prepares Thousands Of Hectares Of Land To Strengthen MBG Food Supply

Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak (right) received a visit from Deputy Head of BGN Nanik Sudaryati Deyang at the Indonesian Army Headquarters, Jakarta, Thursday (30/10/2025). ANTARA/HO-BGN.

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Army National Army (TNI AD) has prepared thousands of hectares of land to strengthen food supplies for the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) in various regions in the country.

This was done as a form of TNI AD's support for the Free Nutrition Food Program (MBG) which is the flagship program of President Prabowo Subianto-Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's government.

"I have ordered the soldiers to grow food, vegetables and fruits in the lands belonging to the Indonesian Army to make the MBG program a success," said Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Maruli Simanjuntak as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, November 1.

Maruli said he had predicted that food prices would increase due to the increasing demand for chicken meat and eggs, as well as vegetables and fruits in line with the increase in the number of SPPGs operating throughout Indonesia.

Therefore, he stressed to his staff to plant land owned by the TNI-AD with various vegetables and fruits.

A number of land owned by the TNI have started to be planted in the last few months, including 206 hectares of land in Gunung Hejo, Purwakarta, 300 hectares of land in Takokak, Cianjur, 100 hectares in Baturaja, Lampung. 50 hectares in Pengalengan, Bandung Regency 600 hectares in Ciemas, Sukabumi, and 60 hectares in Cibenda, Sukabumi.

"We are also educating hundreds of young farmers to manage the agricultural land," said Maruli.

Not only planting food, vegetables and fruits, the Army Chief of Staff has also ordered its soldiers to raise chickens, especially laying hens, because the handling is considered easier than broilers and is harvested more quickly.

"I have also ordered the Kodim-Kodim to raise chickens," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik S. Deyang appreciated the TNI-AD initiative which contributed to the success of the MBG Program through strengthening the food supply chain.

"We are very grateful for the TNI-AD initiative in strengthening food supplies to support the MBG program," said Nanik.

According to him, with the increase in the number of SPPG or MBG kitchens, food needs will also increase, so that it can trigger price increases. If the supply is sufficient, food prices will be stable.

Nanik suggests that apart from staple foods and vegetables, TNI AD soldiers also need to plant land with fruits needed by MBG kitchens, such as bananas.

"Because, apart from being easy to cultivate, bananas can be harvested in a relatively short time and become one of the safe MBG fruit menus," he said.