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In 2025, the Indonesian government will launch a free meal program for the public. This initiative, led by newly elected President Prabowo Subianto, aims to improve the population's welfare and enhance the quality of Indonesia’s human resources. The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) has emphasized the importance of maintaining Prabowo's commitment to investing in children as a critical focus of the upcoming administration's policies and programs.
To reinforce this commitment, INDEF held a panel discussion on Monday, July 29, 2024, at Grand Sahid Jaya, Jakarta. The Economist Gathering event centered on the theme The Urgency of Investing in Children during Prabowo Presidency. The discussion aimed to address the current state of children in Indonesia, the challenges they face, and the policies needed to support the "8 Fast Best Outcome Programs" planned over the next five years to help achieve Indonesia Emas 2045.
Dra. Nina Sardjunani, MA, Director of the Indonesian Nutrition Foundation for Food Fortification (KFI), participated as a speaker in this discussion. Her presentation, titled The Benefits of Supplemental Food Provision on Human Resource Quality Improvement, shared KFI’s free meal program recommendations. Ms. Nina outlined the nutritional status in Indonesia, food consumption patterns, the direction of human resource development, and the importance of providing additional food to improve the quality of life, especially for children.
Ms. Nina addressed macro and micronutrient needs, including vitamins, minerals, proteins, and carbohydrates. She highlighted the issue of hidden hunger, a significant challenge in Indonesia, referring to micronutrient deficiencies that may not be immediately visible but have severe health and developmental impacts.
In her remarks, Ms. Nina stressed that many poor communities cannot afford healthy, nutritious foods, which are often expensive. Therefore, the free meal program is crucial, particularly for schoolchildren who are vulnerable to malnutrition. She warned that micronutrient deficiencies in children can lead to mental and health issues, reduced school participation, and even poverty, ultimately affecting the nation's economy.
- Integration of Mandatory Fortified Food Commodities in the Supplementary Food Program: By including fortified foods, the government can ensure that the food provided meets caloric needs and supplies essential micronutrients. Food fortification has proven to be an effective intervention in combating micronutrient deficiencies.
- Integration of Supplementary Food Programs with Complementary Interventions: The supplementary food program should be integrated with complementary interventions such as food fortification, nutritional supplementation, and food environment policies to ensure children's right to sufficient nutrition is met.
- Health Promotion and Nutrition Education: Providing additional food with adequate nutrition education at home will only have long-term effects. This education is essential to encourage healthier eating behavior.
- Utilization of Local Food Production: The free meal program is expected to prioritize using local food products. This approach will help increase demand for local produce, support local economies, and stimulate new growth opportunities in rural areas.
With the implementation of this program, it is hoped that the quality of Indonesia’s human resources will improve, contributing to the country’s larger vision of achieving Indonesia Emas 2045.
