Amran Sulaiman: Rice Food Aid is a Real Attention from the Government to the Community

SURABAYA - Minister of Agriculture and Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Andi Amran Sulaiman said the distribution of rice food assistance is a form of real attention and concern of the central government together with the local government to the community.

This was conveyed by Amran when distributing rice food assistance in Lidah Kulon Village, Lakarsantri District, Surabaya, East Java, Wednesday (12/8/2026).

"This is the President's direction, we distribute it to 33.4 million beneficiaries throughout Indonesia. East Java is the second day after yesterday from Alor. We are moving on continuously until we run out and as soon as possible we will release it, rather than rice piling up in warehouses," said Amran.

Amran said that the distribution of food assistance was carried out in the midst of abundant national rice stocks. Currently, national rice stocks have reached around 5.2 million tons.

According to him, this condition goes hand in hand with the improvement of farmers' welfare and the increasingly strong national food availability.

"Food assistance is already underway, farmers' welfare is increasing, and our stocks are many in the shortest possible time," he said.

Bulog Ensure Rice Assistance is Accurate Target

Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani emphasized that Bulog is ready to carry out the government's assignment as the main operator in implementing the rice food assistance program.

"This Food Assistance Program is a tangible manifestation of the state's presence in ensuring that people's food needs are met. Today we are together with the Head of Bapanas to directly hand over assistance to the community in Surabaya," said Ahmad Rizal.

He said Bulog carried out various stages in the program, ranging from the provision of stocks, logistics management, to the distribution of rice to Food Assistance Recipients (PBP) through the Bulog network throughout Indonesia.

"With the national rice stock being very adequate, we are ready to fully support the President's direction so that food assistance can be immediately distributed to target and on time to the people throughout Indonesia," he said.

495 Lidah Kulon Residents Receive Assistance

In Lidah Kulon Village, food aid in the form of rice was distributed to 495 Food Assistance Recipients (PBP).

The assistance was also given for a three-month allocation, namely July, August, and September 2026. Thus, each recipient receives a total of 30 kilograms of rice, or 10 kilograms per month.

The distribution of food assistance is part of the government's program to ensure food availability for the community while maintaining national food stability amid abundant rice stocks.