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‘Zakat fitrah’: An annual wake-up call for greater food security
Disbursing zakat fitrah in the form of rice may not be the most effective way of addressing food insecurity in Indonesia.
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Muslims pay zakat fitrah alms at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta in this undated photo. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
O
ne of the defining features of the sacred month of Ramadan, in addition to the obligatory fast, is the requirement to pay zakat fitrah alms. This particular zakat, unlike other forms of zakat, is obligatory for all Muslims and is analogous to a head tax, a uniform tax imposed upon every individual or, in this case, every Muslim.
Essentially, all able Muslims, provided they are not impoverished, are obliged to pay zakat fitrah, regardless of gender, profession or age. This religious duty, due to an extensive zakat payer base, has a relatively minimal requirement, amounting to only one sha' of wheat or dates. According to Indonesian contemporary Islamic scholars, this quantity is equivalent to 2.5 kg or 3.5 liters of a staple food, mainly rice.
Philosophically, because this zakat is paid in the form of food and the payment is repeated annually, zakat fitrah appears to be an Islamic method of providing an annual wake-up call on the importance of attending to the matter of food security. The extensive zakat prayer base also implies a great urgency and this exhortation is addressed to all of us.
The matter of food security in Indonesia requires more attention and emphasis. Food security is not only about availability. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows that Indonesia's average dietary energy supply sufficiency is more than adequate, namely 126 percent in 2019-2021. This figure is also higher than the global average, which is 124 percent.
Nevertheless, according to the Global Hunger Index of 2022, Indonesia is placed 77th out of 121 nations. In Southeast Asia, Indonesia is only ahead of Laos (82nd) and East Timor (110th). Abundant food availability does not ensure the absence of hunger.
Among the four dimensions of food security (availability, access, utilization and stability), the matter of utilization is one of the most disquieting dimensions in Indonesia. Although food may be accessible, those who do have access may not necessarily be able to consume nutritionally adequate food. This is also the background to the grave issues of malnutrition and stunting in Indonesia.
The inadequate utilization of food is suggested to be a consequence of the exorbitant cost of a healthy diet. The FAO estimates that for Indonesians to be able to purchase a healthy diet, they must spend the equivalent of Rp 21,252 (US$1.44) a day. This figure may appear insignificant, but it means a family of four must allocate at least Rp 85,008 for food daily. This figure is the 16th most costly figure globally and the costliest in Southeast Asia.
