Bapanas Says Rice Aid Distribution at 95%, Govt Delivers 629,000 tons

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Food Agency or Bapanas stated that as of March 29, rice aid distribution had reached 95.41 percent. The government has disbursed a total of 629,000 tons of rice aid.

"The first phase of distribution in 2024 is expected to reduce inflation,” said Bapanas Head Arief Prasetyo Adi in his statement on Sunday, March 31, 2024.

He also hoped that this aid could help low-income people obtain basic food materials. According to him, the distribution of this food aid is inseparable from the strategic role of Bulog and the transporters involved in the process. However, he assessed that the distribution of social assistance must be expedited so it could finish in time for Eid al-Fitr. 

President Joko Widodo previously stated that this program will be continued until June 2024 and will continue if the State Budget (APBN) is sufficient. 

Arief also claimed that Bulog's rice stock is still sufficient, amounting to 1.1 million tons. Along with the harvest, said Arief, Bulog will continue to make efforts to increase the absorption of grain and rice stocks. 

Arief claimed the distribution of rice assistance will have an impact on controlling inflation. In February 2024, monthly rice price inflation was recorded at 5.32 percent. While in January 2024, rice inflation was at 0.64 percent. Arief believed that rice inflation this March could be suppressed since the social assistance was properly distributed. 

In addition to rice assistance, Arief said Bapanas will continue to coordinate with ministries, agencies, and local governments to control inflation. In particular, during the National Religious Holidays (HBKN) this March and April.

Every week, said Arief, Bapanas attends an inflation control coordination meeting held by the Ministry of Home Affairs and attended by all provinces and districts or cities. According to him, the government has implemented several strategic actions to control food conditions during Ramadan and Idul Fitri.

Among other things, the government disbursed rice through the food supply and price stabilization or SPHP amounting to 517,000 tons. In addition, Bapanas also carries out the cheap food movement or GPM to implement the SPHP program's rice disbursement throughout Indonesia is carried out by Perum Bulog. Arief noted that the realization until March 25 amounted to 517 thousand tons. Meanwhile, the fulfillment of SPHP rice to modern retail and traditional markets as of 24 March amounted to 20 thousand tons.

Another step taken by Bapanas is the Cheap Food Movement (GPM). 

The government is also distributing food aid through ID Food Holding. The government has delivered food aid in the form of frozen chicken meat and 10 chicken eggs to 1,242 families as of March 21. 

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI

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