Realization Of Rice Food Assistance Reaches 95 Percent, Badanas Pede Can Press Inflation

A number of workers prepared rice for the Supply Stabilization and Food Price (SPHP) program at Perum Bulog Meulaboh warehouse, West Aceh, Aceh, Tuesday (24/1/2023). (Between/Syifa Yulinnas/hp/aa)

JAKARTA - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) noted that the realization of rice food assistance as of March 29 had reached 95.41 percent with a total aid volume of 629,000 tons. The distribution of this assistance is believed to reduce the inflation rate.

Sekafar informasi, bantuan pangan beras digelontorkan pemerintah melalui penugasan NFA kepada Perum Bulog. Beras yang digunakan untuk program bantuan ini bersumber dari stok Reserve Beras Pemerintah (CBP) di mana penyalurannya diatur dalam Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 17 tahun 2015 Tentang Ketahanan Pangan dan Gizi yang dapat disalurkan, salah satunya untuk bantuan pangan ke masyarakat.

Head of the National Food Agency (NFA) Arief Prasetyo Adi said that the realization of the first phase for 2024 is expected to be able to reduce the inflation rate, as well as help low-income people to obtain basic foodstuffs.

"Alhamdulillah, the realization of rice banpang for the first phase of this year has almost completed with the achievement of 95 percent. This is inseparable from the strategic role of Perum Bulog and the transporters involved in this banpang distribution process," he said in a statement received by VOI, in Jakarta, Sunday, March 31.

Furthermore, Arief said that this rice food aid will continue to be boosted so that before Lebaran 2024 it can be completed immediately because this assistance is very much needed by the community.

"The first phase of the realization covers the period January to March 2024," he said.

Arief also emphasized that Bulog's rice stock was sufficient. Currently, the rice stock in Bulog is above 1.1 million tons and at the same time in line with the main harvest, Bulog will continue to make efforts to increase the absorption of grain or rice.

On the other hand, Arief Prasetyo revealed, in addition to rice food assistance, Bapanas continues to coordinate with the ministries of institutions and local governments so that various strategic actions to control inflation continue. Mainly during this March and April National Religious Holidays (HBKN).

"Regularly every week we attend the inflation control coordination meeting held by the Ministry of Home Affairs and followed by all provinces and regencies/cities," he said.

"This is a strong synergy by encouraging local governments to take various steps to stabilize food, including strengthening cooperation between regions through the cheap food movement and facilitating food distribution," he continued.

A number of strategic actions have also been implemented by the government in an effort to control strategic food conditions during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. The disbursement of SPHP program rice throughout Indonesia has been carried out by Perum Bulog and until March 25 it has touched 517.000 tons. Meanwhile, the fulfillment of SPHP rice to modern retail and traditional markets as of March 24 has reached 20,000 tons.

The next strategic action is the Cheap Food Movement (GPM). From January to the third week of March, the realization of GPM is up to 2,720 times. On April 1, NFA will hold simultaneous GPM in all regions with a temporary target of 597 times until April.

Optimizing cooperation between regions through optimizing sea highways, aircraft cargo, and other modes of transportation to mobilize food stocks to areas with a deficit is also supported by NFA through the Food Distribution Facilitation (FDP) program. This year's FDP target is at least 1,250 tons.

There is also food assistance for handling stunting which has begun to be run by ID FOOD. The realization of the distribution of banpang for stunting as of March 21 has been given to 1,242 Families of Stunting Risk (KRS) in the form of frozen chicken packages weighing 0.9 to 1 kg and 10 chicken eggs.