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Indonesia Launches $28 Billion Free Meal Initiative to Tackle Malnutrition

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JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia has embarked on an ambitious nationwide programme to tackle malnutrition, providing free meals to nearly 90 million children and pregnant women.

The initiative, estimated to cost $28 billion (£22 billion) by 2029, is being hailed as a cornerstone of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, though concerns over affordability and logistical challenges remain.

The Free Nutritious Meal Programme, a campaign pledge of President Subianto, targets the stunted growth affecting 21.5% of Indonesian children under five and aims to boost farmers’ incomes.

With over 282 million citizens, Indonesia—the largest economy in Southeast Asia—faces stark malnutrition issues that Subianto has pledged to tackle alongside accelerating GDP growth from 5% to 8%.

Aiming for a “Golden Indonesia” by 2045

In his October inauguration speech, Subianto spotlighted malnutrition as a national crisis.

He described his vision of providing free lunches and milk to 83 million students across more than 400,000 schools as part of a broader strategy to cultivate a robust workforce for a “Golden Indonesia” generation by 2045.

“Too many of our brothers and sisters live below the poverty line. Too many children go to school without breakfast or proper clothing,” Subianto said.

The government plans to launch the programme in 2025, reaching 19.5 million schoolchildren and pregnant women with a £4.3 billion budget.

This initial phase aims to maintain the annual deficit within a legislated ceiling of 3% of GDP, explained Dadan Hindayana, head of the newly established National Nutrition Agency.

Logistics and Local Partnerships

The programme will require substantial food supplies, including an estimated 6.7 million tonnes of rice, 1.2 million tonnes of chicken, 500,000 tonnes of beef, 1 million tonnes of fish, and 4 million kilolitres of milk.

Nearly 2,000 cooperatives will contribute to the supply chain, offering eggs, vegetables, meat, and other essentials, according to Cooperative Minister Budi Arie Setiadi.

On Monday, the initiative began at SD Cilangkap 08, a primary school in Depok near Jakarta, where 740 students were served rice, stir-fried vegetables, tempeh, chicken, and oranges.

Hindayana assured that government teams would oversee daily meal distributions, covering one-third of children’s caloric needs.

Criticism from Economists and Analysts

While the programme has drawn praise for its ambition, critics question its feasibility. Economists warn of potential strain on state finances and the economy.

“The burden on our state budget is too heavy if we aim to reach 100% of the target recipients. It could hinder Prabowo’s government from achieving its economic growth target of 8%,” said Nailul Huda, a researcher at the Centre for Economic and Law Studies.

Huda also cautioned that the programme might worsen Indonesia’s external balance of payments, as the country heavily relies on imports of rice, wheat, soybeans, beef, and dairy products.

Stunting and Malnutrition Challenges

The programme comes amid a push to reduce stunting rates to 14% by 2024. However, progress has been slow.

According to the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey, national stunting prevalence declined by only 0.8% from the previous year, standing at 21.5%.

UNICEF data reveals one in 12 Indonesian children under five is underweight, and one in five is shorter than normal—both consequences of malnutrition.

“Child malnutrition poses severe consequences for health and long-term development,” said Reni Suwarso, director of the Institute for Democracy, Security and Strategic Studies. “This crisis demands immediate and comprehensive action.”

President Subianto remains confident in the programme’s viability. “We have done the calculations. We are capable,” he asserted.

However, as the government ramps up efforts, critics and proponents alike will closely watch its implementation, logistical hurdles, and financial sustainability.

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