Food Assistance to No Longer Use Minyakita, Zulhas-Mendag Provides Explanation

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The government is preparing to change the distribution scheme for cooking oil in the food assistance programme, no longer relying on Minyakita. This policy is intended to keep Minyakita supplies available in the market, especially in traditional markets. Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) stated that the use of Minyakita in food assistance has been one of the factors pressuring availability and driving up prices in the market. The high demand, combined with large-scale assistance distribution, has led to unbalanced distribution. “Minyakita is too popular now. Everyone buys Minyakita. (Plus yesterday) there was Minyakita food assistance for 33 million (Beneficiary Families/KPM) times two litres. Well, using Minyakita. That gets sucked up, so in the market it’s a bit reduced, causing prices to rise,” said Zulhas during a press conference at his office in Jakarta on Wednesday (22/4/2026). Therefore, the government will redirect the source of cooking oil for food assistance by opening options to use other brands at the same price from producers. This step is expected to maintain the balance of Minyakita supply in the market. “Now we will reverse it. Later for assistance, we will request any brand at the same price from producers, so that in traditional markets it doesn’t decrease,” he said. Meanwhile, Trade Minister (Mendag) Budi Santoso stated that the new scheme is still in the discussion stage with cooking oil producers. The government is opening various possibilities regarding the brands that will be used in future food assistance. “Not known yet later. Now it’s partly Minyakita. Later we will meet with producers. We will find a solution for food assistance. Yes, it can be various later, depending on the agreement,” said Budi when met after the press conference. With this scheme, the government hopes that Minyakita distribution will refocus on traditional markets, while food assistance needs remain fulfilled without disrupting supplies to the public.