National Nutrition Agency prioritizes budget efficiency, re-evaluates meal program beneficiaries

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is shifting its focus from expanding the reach of its free nutritious meal program to improving its efficiency and quality, according to agency head Nanik S. Deyang.

Deyang announced that the BGN will implement a moratorium on establishing new nutrition service units. This move is part of a broader strategy to achieve budget efficiency and ensure the "Makan Bergizi Gratis" (MBG) program is more effectively administered.

"This year, please, Mr. President, we are not chasing quantity. We will improve quality," Deyang stated during a press conference on Thursday, June 4, 2026. She revealed that President Prabowo Subianto has approved this strategic pivot.

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This year, please, Mr. President, we are not chasing quantity. We will improve quality.

Consequently, the BGN will no longer pursue its previous target of reaching 82 million beneficiaries. Instead, the agency aims to enhance the quality of food provided by MBG kitchens and ensure the program reaches those genuinely in need. This includes re-evaluating the participation of private schools, particularly those with high tuition fees, to determine if they still require MBG support.

Resources from programs found to be misallocated will be redirected to communities facing greater need. Deyang indicated that while the total number of beneficiaries might not necessarily decrease, the reallocation aims to ensure support is directed towards the most appropriate recipients, potentially increasing the count in underserved areas while reducing it in places where it is deemed less necessary.

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we are not chasing quantity. We will improve quality