Bapanas: Additional food aid to maintain stability and purchasing power

The Deputy for Food Availability and Stabilisation at the National Food Agency (Bapanas), I Gusti Ketut Astawa, stated that the additional rice food aid in 2026 is intended to maintain national food stability and strengthen the public’s purchasing power. “Food aid is part of efforts to ensure food availability is maintained and that the community, especially vulnerable groups, remains protected,” said Ketut in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. The government has ensured the additional distribution of food aid in 2026 will occur three times, with the commodity being 10 kilograms of rice per Beneficiary Family (KPM). This policy is an anticipatory step by the government to maintain food stability for the public, particularly vulnerable groups. As of 9 June 2026, the realisation of food aid distribution for the February-March 2026 period nationally has reached 62.16 percent, or has been received by 20.6 million KPMs. A total of 413.3 thousand tonnes of rice and 82.6 thousand kilolitres of cooking oil have been received by beneficiary communities. Ketut affirmed that the additional food aid distribution is part of the government’s series of policies to maintain national food conditions, through various instruments ranging from the management of government food reserves, stabilisation of food supply and prices, to intervention in strategic food commodities. The decision for the additional distribution of food aid in 2026, consisting of three rounds with the commodity being 10 kilograms of rice per KPM, was conveyed in a Limited Coordination Meeting led by Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan. “Considering the upcoming dry season and observing the latest developments, the prices of basic necessities must not rise under any circumstances. The President’s directive is that we must not make things difficult for the people,” said Zulhas. “Therefore, we are adding three months of rice aid or food aid,” Zulhas added while chairing the Limited Coordination Meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday. The distribution of rice food aid will commence in July 2026, while the two subsequent periods will be adjusted according to the harvest scarcity season and the development of the national food situation. “Three times, or for three months, 10 kilos times 33,244,000 (KPM). So approximately 1 million tonnes (of rice will be distributed). This is so that nearly 34 million of our most vulnerable citizens are not affected by exchange rate changes or any other changes,” he added. With the additional distribution of rice food aid three times in 2026, the government ensures that public protection continues while maintaining food access for vulnerable groups facing various future challenges.