Jokowi Calls Other Countries No Rice Aid Like In Indonesia

President Joko Widodo gave a speech at the Implementation of the Distribution of Government Rice Reserve Food Assistance at Bulog Warehouse, Bekasi (ANTARA)

BEKASI - President Joko Widodo said in other countries there was no rice food assistance as given by the Indonesian government to the community. Thus conveyed President Joko Widodo in the event of the Implementation of Government Rice Reserve Assistance Distribution in Bulog Warehouse, Cibitung, Bekasi, West Java, Friday, February 16. "If in other countries there is no rice food assistance as we have it. We calculate, our APBN (State Revenue and Expenditure Budget) (can)," said Jokowi. He said the function of the state is to provide food assistance when there is an increase in rice prices. Therefore, he said, the government prepared rice food assistance until June 2024, each of them 10 kg per family, per month. He admitted that he could understand if 10 kg of rice assistance was insufficient for monthly needs. But he said at least assistance could help the community. "Yes, if asked, it is not enough. I already know the answer is like that. But this is still helpful, right," he said. He also promised that if the state budget is sufficient then the aid will continue to be distributed after June. "Later we will see in the state budget if the government has the capability to be continued next. But my promise is that until June first. Later count the state budget is approximately, it can still be added, "Jokowi added," Jokowi added. On that occasion, the President symbolically distributed rice food assistance to representatives of the people present. Previously, on Thursday, President Joko Widodo said that social assistance (bansos) the rice food provided by the government to the community helps in controlling rice prices in the market. "There is no connection at all (increasing rice prices) with rice assistance. Because this (food social assistance) can control, because the supply is through social assistance to the community," Jokowi said. According to the President, the food assistance provided by the government meets the needs of rice in the community, so as to prevent or help control rice prices from rising.

Joko Widodo said the cause of the scarcity of rice and the increase in rice prices was recently due to rice harvests not yet entering the market. In addition, distribution is also affected by flooding, for example, which occurred in Grobogan, Demak, Central Java.