Indonesian farmers' group says free meal program boosts domestic food demand

The Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association (HKTI) reports that the government's Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program is significantly increasing demand for domestic food commodities. HKTI's daily chairman, Bachtiar Utomo, stated that the substantial need for ingredients for the MBG program opens up market opportunities for local farmers and food businesses. He believes this sustained increase in demand offers market certainty for the agricultural sector.

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Semakin tinggi kebutuhan pangan untuk program MBG, semakin besar pula hasil produksi petani yang terserap. Dampaknya tentu sangat positif terhadap pendapatan dan kesejahteraan petani.

"The higher the food demand for the MBG program, the greater the amount of farmers' produce that will be absorbed. The impact is certainly very positive on farmers' incomes and welfare," Bachtiar said on Friday. He added that the program not only provides nutritious food but also stimulates local economies. It supports farmers whose harvests are absorbed, helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) grow, and creates jobs.

Beyond expanding agricultural markets, Bachtiar noted the program can strengthen local food supply chains by involving various businesses, from farmers and breeders to fishermen and food processing SMEs. This broad involvement can generate economic benefits for regions, especially if food supplies are sourced locally. HKTI also emphasized the need to bolster national food production alongside the MBG program to prevent increased demand from straining supply.

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Program ini tidak hanya memberikan makanan bergizi kepada masyarakat, tetapi juga menggerakkan ekonomi daerah. Ada petani yang hasil panennya terserap, UMKM yang berkembang, dan lapangan kerja yang tercipta.

"This is a momentum to strengthen the agricultural sector while increasing farmers' productivity so that national food needs can be met sustainably," Bachtiar urged. HKTI views the MBG program as a potential driver for strengthening the national food ecosystem, provided it is backed by enhanced production capacity, distribution, and farmer participation in the supply chain.

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Ini menjadi momentum untuk memperkuat sektor pertanian sekaligus meningkatkan produktivitas petani sehingga kebutuhan pangan nasional dapat dipenuhi secara berkelanjutan.