Jakarta, July 13 -- Indonesia's free nutritious meals program has engaged about 148,000 local suppliers and will increasingly rely on Red and White Village Cooperatives to strengthen rural economies and support food self-sufficiency, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said.

"The program currently involves around 148,000 suppliers, including village-owned enterprises, Red and White Village Cooperatives, farmer groups, livestock groups and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises," Hasan said on Monday.

He made the remarks during a food security and environmental sustainability dialogue in Wonosobo, Central Java, attended by government officials, academics, non-governmental organizations and social forestry groups.

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