Rice Food Assistance Extended Until December, Target 18.2 Million Recipients

JAKARTA The government has decided to continue the rice food assistance program for the next four months, or until December 2025. This program targets 18.2 million recipients.

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan conveyed the food assistance provided in the form of 10 kilograms (kg) of rice per family. Later, the distribution will be carried out in two stages.

Zulhas, as he is familiarly called, said that the rice food assistance program was part of the economic stimulus released by the government.

"We have decided for four months of food assistance, at the direction of the President. So 10 kilos (per family). Maybe it will be divided 2 times (the distribution)," he said after a coordination meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs Office, Jakarta, Friday, September 12.

Meanwhile, Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said that his party received directions from President Prabowo Subianto to continue rice food assistance from September to December 2025.

"Mr. Coordinating Minister (Pangan) said that he had received food assistance directions for 4 months, from September to December it was part of the economic stimulus, which yesterday was 2 months plus 4, meaning that actually 6 months of this was given an economic stimulus," said Arief.

The distribution scheme, continued Arief, will be carried out in two stages.

So one distribution for September and October is 20 kg, and another for November and December is 20 kg.

"10 kilos (for one month) times four months. I will assign it to the President Director of Bulog only twice, September, October, and November, December. So, we can finish it as soon as possible," he explained.

Arief bilang, anggaran yang disiapkan untuk melanjutkan program bantuan pangan beras ini sebesar Rp13,9 triliun.

“Anggarannya, ya menyesuaikan ya. Yang jelas, kemungkinan sama operasional, distribusi, segala macam sekitar Rp13,9 triliun,” katanya.

Arief said the budget prepared to continue the rice food assistance program was IDR 13.9 trillion.

"The budget, yes, adjust it. What is clear is the same operationality, distribution, all kinds of around Rp. 13.9 trillion," he said.