DPD Members Support Bapanas in Strengthening Food Price Interventions for the Public
Jakarta - Members of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) RI, Achmad Azran and Alfiansyah Bustami, commonly known as Komeng, support the National Food Agency (Bapanas) in conducting food price interventions to maintain stability and affordability for communities in various regions.
Azran hopes that the government under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership, through Bapanas, can provide the best for the public, particularly in the food sector.
“Of course, with this synergy, we will work together to implement President Prabowo’s programmes, which aim to provide the best for the people,” said Azran in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.
The senator from DPD RI Committee I emphasised this during a visit to Bapanas headquarters together with Senator Alfiansyah Bustami from DPD RI Committee II, to strengthen synergy regarding the oversight of relevant food programmes.
“Today, hopefully through this visit, there will be synergies that can be established to meet the people’s (food) needs,” Azran stated.
Meanwhile, Alfiansyah Bustami, alias Komeng, emphasised that food matters must not face any issues, so Indonesians must have access to good, safe, and affordable food.
“Food is a matter of the stomach. Don’t mess with (stomach) matters,” Senator Komeng asserted firmly.
According to him, this synergy can strengthen the implementation of various targeted food intervention programmes, one of which is the distribution of food aid in the form of rice and cooking oil targeting 33.2 million beneficiary families.
“We have two programmes; the first is food aid. This is given to 33.2 million families. If you are willing to accompany, that would be great. We will synchronise it with Bulog,” said Ketut.
Bapanas recorded that the realisation of rice and cooking oil food aid as of 29 April has reached 8.3 million beneficiary families. A total of 166.2 million kilograms of rice and 33.2 million litres of cooking oil have been massively distributed to 38 provinces.
The agency has also issued a policy to extend the deadline for food aid distribution until 31 May, carried out by Perum Bulog.
“This comes from a request for an extension submitted by Perum Bulog at the end of March 2026. Originally, the food aid programme was for the February and March period,” he explained.
If suitable packaging for the food aid programme is not available during distribution, Bulog may use other available packaging by adding the food aid programme identity as an inseparable part.
In addition to food aid, Ketut also invited the DPD RI to jointly intensify the Affordable Food Movement (GPM) programme. A more massive GPM in various locations can provide affordable food access to communities in various regions.
“The Affordable Food Movement is a government step to bring fair-priced food closer to the people, with prices below market rates. Locations can be prepared at sub-districts, districts, or others; we will deploy teams,” he explained.
Bapanas also proposed assistance for the distribution of the Corn Feed Special Purchase Programme (SPHP), which is about to begin. The programme targets more than 5,000 farmers consisting of micro, small, and medium scales with a total population of 53 million birds in 26 provinces. For that stage, it is estimated that 213.1 thousand tonnes will be distributed.
The distribution of SPHP corn feed is carried out through cooperatives or associations to registered members in accordance with Ministerial Decree of Agriculture Number 3540/KPTS/HK.150/F/03/2026 dated 31 March 2026. The government hopes that the implementation of SPHP corn feed can address corn price fluctuations at the farmer level.