Indonesian economists are calling for a fundamental reassessment of President Prabowo Subianto’s Free Nutritious Meals program, contending that its universal nature uses enormous public funds that could be better utilized by targeting families and children facing the highest risks of food insecurity. Speaking at a discussion at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta on Friday, experts from the Indonesian Economists Alliance questioned the rationale behind providing government-funded meals on such a broad scale instead of prioritizing households that struggle to afford adequate food.
Critiques of Universal Scale and Economic Contradictions
Vid Adrison, an economics lecturer at the University of Indonesia and a member of the Indonesian Economists Alliance, noted that a scheme intended to eventually reach tens of millions of individuals conflicts with official assertions of widespread economic prosperity. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) reports that the government’s current strategy for 2027 aims for 72.46 million recipients, which includes roughly 60.6 million students and 11.87 million toddlers, breastfeeding mothers, and pregnant women.
“If the target is 82.9 million beneficiaries, that means the program is universal, so claims that the economy is already doing well become contradictory,” Vid said during the Gadjah Mada University discussion. “Why? Because at the same time, everyone supposedly needs assistance just to be able to eat.”
Vid referenced official data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) indicating that in 2024, inadequate food consumption affected 10.39% of the bottom 40% of households by expenditure, while the figures were 6.42% for the middle 40% and 2.9% for the wealthiest 20%. He stressed that the economists are not challenging the objective of ensuring Indonesians have sufficient food and nutrition, but rather the implementation model.
Did You Know? Official Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data from 2024 show that the prevalence of inadequate food consumption stood at 10.39% among the bottom 40% of households by expenditure, compared with 2.9% among the richest 20%.
Proposed Targeted Alternatives and Cost Comparisons
Lili Yan Ing, secretary-general of the International Economic Association, suggested a much more limited and targeted version of the Free Nutritious Meals program, referred to as MBG. She calculated that a program focusing on the children with the greatest need could be run with an annual budget not exceeding approximately Rp 8 trillion ($448 million).
Lili’s figures are based in part on BPS data showing that 10.57% of students from the bottom 40% of expenditure households reported never eating breakfast, compared to 9.67% of all students who never ate breakfast. In her suggested model, the government could provide 3 million children with meals for 200 school days at a rate of Rp 13,000 per child daily, resulting in an annual cost of roughly Rp 7.8 trillion.
She also suggested delivering some nutrition assistance through targeted cash transfers or vouchers to lower-income families, restricted to staples like rice, legumes, and green vegetables. Such a model could maintain the program’s objective of supporting local producers by directing purchases toward community-level food while reducing administrative burdens.
Budget Scale, Safety Concerns, and Ongoing Investigations
The scale of the existing program remains vast. The 2026 state budget initially allocated Rp 335 trillion to MBG, though BGN chief Sudaryono stated in August that the allocation was reduced to Rp 229 trillion following spending reviews and schedule adjustments. For 2027, the BGN has a budget ceiling of Rp 240.20 trillion, with Rp 232.88 trillion designated for the National Nutrition Fulfillment Program, which includes Rp 232.5 trillion specifically for MBG food assistance.
The government maintains that MBG is an investment in human development designed to improve nutrition, generate jobs, and stimulate demand for farmers, fishers, livestock producers, and small businesses. However, Lili argued that the program’s scale and design require reconsideration following repeated food safety incidents and ongoing legal scrutiny. Tens of thousands of illnesses have been reported in suspected food poisoning incidents since the program began, prompting authorities to tighten food safety procedures and review meal kitchens.
Separately, the Attorney General’s Office is investigating alleged corruption in the management of MBG at the BGN during 2025-2026 and has questioned witnesses. The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations have not been proven in court. “What is needed now is a moratorium, pilot projects, and an evaluation,” Lili said.
Fiscal Capacity and Constraints on Public Spending
Lili placed her criticism in the broader context of Indonesia’s limited fiscal resources, noting that the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio has remained relatively low for years. This constraint limits the government’s ability to simultaneously finance large social programs, infrastructure, and education.
The government’s 2027 budget plan estimates revenue of Rp 3.43 quadrillion and spending of Rp 4.10 quadrillion, resulting in a deficit of Rp 671.2 trillion, or 2.4% of gross domestic product, with projected tax revenue of Rp 2.908 quadrillion. “Amid uncertainty in global oil prices and rising interest rates, we need to make low-productivity programs more efficient to maintain fiscal stability,” Lili said.
Lili questioned the treatment of free meal spending within Indonesia's broader education budget, calculating that MBG-related expenditure in 2027 would account for nearly 30% of the education budget. She argued this allocates a substantial share of education resources toward providing meals rather than directly improving teaching, learning outcomes, teacher quality, or school infrastructure.
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