Indonesia's Ambitious Free Meals Program: A Recipe for Change

Indonesia plans to tackle malnutrition with a massive free meals program initiated by president-elect Prabowo Subianto. Launching in January, it will initially serve 20 million students, aiming to cover 83 million people annually. The initiative includes economic benefits, fostering local agriculture, and creating over one million jobs.

Indonesia is set to launch an ambitious free meals program spearheaded by president-elect Prabowo Subianto. Aimed at combating malnutrition, the initiative will begin in January, first reaching 20 million students and expanding to 83 million recipients, including pregnant mothers, with an annual cost of $28 billion.

The program, described by Dadan Hindayana, head of the national nutrition agency, plans to establish 5,000 kitchens, or 'service units', next year, with an eye to increase to 30,000 by 2027. This move is expected to generate over a million jobs and fuel local agriculture by sourcing ingredients from domestic farmers.

Upon full implementation, the estimated annual demand is significant, requiring thousands of metric tonnes of rice, chicken, vegetables, and millions of litres of milk. This initiative reflects a commitment not only to health but also to economic growth, supporting local agriculture and addressing student malnutrition head-on.

(With inputs from agencies.)