[Asia Report] Controversy Over Free School Meals in Indonesia, One of the World's Top Three Rice Producers

President Prabowo's Campaign Promise
Over 14 Trillion Won Allocated Annually
Military Mobilized to Implement Free School Meals

The term 'food shortage' is hardly an image that comes to mind when thinking of the warm ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. The climate is suitable for agriculture, allowing for triple cropping every year, and the majority of the population is engaged in farming. The same applies to Indonesia, a Southeast Asian giant with a population nearing 300 million. Ironically, many experts cite a 'food crisis' as a national security issue for the country. This is due to its geographical uniqueness. Indonesia is an archipelago made up of 6,000 inhabited islands (out of a total of 20,000), but not all island regions are suitable for farming, making it difficult to reliably supply food ingredients to these remote islands. Therefore, food self-sufficiency is a higher priority security issue than external threats.

In fact, despite being one of the world's top three rice producers, Indonesia ranked 77th out of 127 countries in the 2024 Global Hunger Index, with 8% of its population (23 million people) experiencing food insecurity. The country is heavily dependent on imports for wheat and soybeans, which are difficult to produce domestically, as well as beef and dairy products. Additionally, climate changes such as El Ni?o and inflation-driven food price increases could worsen the crisis. Malnutrition among children is common, with 30% of those under five suffering from stunted growth due to nutritional deficiencies.

Prabowo's Popular Pledge

Therefore, the Prabowo Subianto administration, inaugurated at the end of October last year, promised to introduce a national free school meal program focused on elementary school students as part of its presidential campaign, pledging improvements in public health and national economic innovation. It is a kind of Indonesian version of a 'free school meal' pledge. The free meal program, which began immediately after inauguration, aims to provide one meal and milk daily to about 90 million people, including 80 million elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as infants and pregnant women, by 2029.

The Prabowo government allocated 171 trillion rupiah (approximately 14 trillion won) for this year alone, elevating it to the most extensive welfare program in history. Naturally, it is widely welcomed as a necessary intervention to solve child malnutrition and improve educational outcomes. Free school meals help children's growth and contribute to poverty eradication. Based on this, Prabowo's popularity soared to over 80% early in his term.

In a country where food is a security issue, 'free school meals' are ideal. The key is whether it can be maintained effectively and sustainably. Especially, funding is a concern. Can the new government continuously secure more than 14 trillion won annually? A bigger question is whether this massive project can avoid leakage and properly reach children on the 6,000 islands.

Prabowo Subianto, President of Indonesia, is giving a speech at the inauguration ceremony of the new sovereign wealth fund Danatara Indonesia held in Jakarta. Photo by AFP

Growing Doubts

To fund the free school meal program, the Prabowo government ordered budget cuts amounting to about 28 trillion won this year, resulting in 48 ministries and agencies beginning to cancel various projects one after another. Infrastructure projects are a prime example. The government's Public Works Department for infrastructure stated, "This year's budget has been cut by 80% compared to last year, leading to the cancellation of many road and bridge maintenance projects." Not only education and research and development (R&D) budgets but even supplies like drinking water and toilet paper for government offices have been halted. The 'budget efficiency guidelines' are expected to be further strengthened, with plans to allocate more funds to new projects like free school meals.

A bigger issue is that the military's influence is growing under the pretext of the free school meal program. President Prabowo is a prominent military figure, a general graduate of the Army Academy. After his election, it was anticipated that military influence would increase. The Indonesian military (TNI) is at the center of this free meal program. The military stationed in various regions has taken charge of food distribution and installing kitchens in remote schools. Going further, military-owned land is being converted into farmland for rice and corn production. Government funds are first directed to the military.

Consequently, Prabowo's popularity, which soared early in his term, is rapidly declining. About 9 million unemployed youths have united to criticize 'government budget cuts' and 'widespread public sector corruption,' loudly protesting on social media with slogans like "We must escape the country to survive." While planned projects such as the capital relocation have stalled due to budget shortages, an ironic situation has unfolded where soldiers are dispatched to schools to distribute trays of food including rice, chicken, and milk. Recently, President Prabowo and ruling party politicians held a lavish party celebrating the fulfillment of the free school meal pledge, saying, "Our people, our children must not go hungry." There are growing voices pointing out that President Prabowo's crisis has already begun.

Jeong Ho-jae, Secretary-General of Asia Vision Forum