Indonesian Parliament Urges Kitchens to Source Local Fish

RRI.CO.ID, Mangupura – Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Johan Rosihan has urged local governments to issue regulations or circulars requiring Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG), kitchens to support "Free Nutritious Meals" program, to source local fishery products for the program's menus. He said the measure is important to prevent standardized menus from increasing dependence on supplies from outside the region.

Johan criticized the national standardization of menus, which he said have so far been dominated by eggs and chicken. According to him, not all regions are self-sufficient in egg production. As a result, MBG kitchen operators in coastal areas must source food supplies from outside their regions, with deliveries taking a long time.

“Eggs and chicken should not be the only standardized options. We are not yet self-sufficient in egg production in every region. As a result, eggs have to be brought in from outside, and we may have to wait anywhere from two weeks to a month. Local governments should not hesitate. Issuing a regent’s regulation or a regional regulation could require MBG kitchen operators to source local fishery products, which are clearly fresher and more abundant,” he said during a DPR working visit to the Denpasar Center for Marine and Fisheries Product Quality Control and Supervision (BPPMHKP) in Badung Regency, Bali, on Friday, September 18, 2026.

Johan, of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), explained that most regions in Indonesia have coastal areas with abundant marine fishery resources. Using fresh fish from nearby waters not only helps ensure nutritional quality and food safety but can also minimize the risk of food poisoning at MBG kitchens.

“Fish is easy to process and can be sourced from nearby waters, ensuring that it is fresh. If the products are fresh and quality assurance is overseen by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries’ Quality Control Center, we can ensure that there is no risk of food poisoning in SPPG kitchens. By contrast, food supplies transported from distant locations carry greater risks,” Johan stressed, as quoted by dpr.go.id on Monday, September 21, 2026.

Furthermore, the legislator from West Nusa Tenggara emphasized that the program should generate a multiplier effect to improve the welfare of local fishermen. With regional regulations requiring the use of local products, the MBG supply chain could develop sustainably by driving economic activity in coastal communities.

“Let’s make use of local products. With such policies, God willing, the MBG program will be well received by the people. MBG can become part of a regional logistics chain, children’s nutritional needs can be met, and local fishermen’s catches can be absorbed directly by the market,” he concluded.

Secretary-General of the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Andi Artha, said the BPPMHKP is currently innovating by facilitating the supply of high-quality fish raw materials to local kitchen units. As a concrete step, the ministry has begun supplying tuna trimming meat and protein-rich barramundi to diversify menus at free meal kitchens.

Based on data from the National Food Agency (Bapanas) and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, national capture fisheries and aquaculture production potential continues to be developed to support nutritional needs and efforts to address stunting. To ensure food safety, the ministry said it routinely conducts inspections and certification to monitor and certify local fish supplies for microbiological contamination and heavy metals.