Indonesia jumpstarts US$28 billion plan to fight malnutrition
Programme aims to develop the nation’s resources to achieve a ‘Golden Indonesia’ generation by 2045.
Indonesia’s new government has launched a US$28 billion project to combat malnutrition. Photo: AFPIndonesia’s new government has started an ambitious project to fight malnutrition by feeding nearly 90 million children and pregnant women. The project is expected to cost US$28 billion (HK$218 billion) through 2029.
President Prabowo Subianto said the programme aims to fight the stunting of growth that afflicts 21.5 per cent of Indonesian children younger than five.
Subianto promised to provide free school lunches and milk to 83 million students at more than 400,000 schools. It is part of a long-term strategy to develop the nation’s human resources to achieve a “Golden Indonesia” generation by 2045.
The government aims to reach 19.5 million schoolchildren and pregnant women in 2025.
Nearly 2,000 co-operatives will be involved in the free meals programme by providing eggs, vegetables, rice, fish, meat, milk and other food, Cooperative Minister Budi Arie Setiadi said.