JAKARTA — Indonesia will open 480 kitchens next month as part of its free-meals program, according to Sudaryono, head of the National Nutrition Agency. Most will be located in remote and disadvantaged areas, including Papua.
Sudaryono announced that 269 kitchens will operate across 16 provinces in eastern Indonesia, including Gorontalo and Maluku, regions with high rates of stunting. An additional 211 kitchens will open elsewhere.
The program, President Prabowo Subianto's signature campaign initiative, aims to feed 83 million school children and expectant mothers. Since its launch in 2025, it has faced significant obstacles.
Corruption allegations have marred implementation. More than 50,000 cases of food poisoning have been reported, and several privately operated kitchens have closed. The program's multi-billion-dollar cost has also raised concerns about Indonesia's budget deficit.
The scheme's budget was cut to 229 trillion rupiah ($12.8 billion) from an initial 335 trillion rupiah for the current year. For next year, it is set at 240 trillion rupiah. Sudaryono said the agency would prioritize remote areas following the reduction.
Kitchens will activate beginning Friday, with staff training and meal provision scaling up throughout October. The payment mechanism for kitchen owners remains unclear as activation begins.
Hundreds of investors who built kitchens in remote areas have experienced payment delays attributed to government budget-efficiency measures, leaving some facilities idle for months.
