Government Allocates Rp17 Trillion for Rice Assistance to 33.2 Million Low-Income Families
The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, stated that the government is preparing a budget of Rp17 trillion for rice assistance to 33.2 million poor or low-income families throughout the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2026.
“The budget is approximately Rp17 trillion (for rice assistance over three months),” said Coordinating Minister Airlangga during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.
According to him, this is a follow-up to the directives from President Prabowo Subianto to prepare various assistance programmes for the community.
The assistance, which will continue through October, November, and December 2026, will be distributed to 33.2 million families within the decile 1 to decile 4 categories, providing 10 kilograms of rice per family per month.
Nevertheless, the second phase of rice distribution, scheduled for completion in September 2026, will be implemented using a backdated system, meaning recipients will receive 30 kilograms of rice all at once this month.
“Yes, the total remains 30 kilograms per quarter, usually in 10-kilogram packages. However, the Coordinating Minister for Food (Zulkifli Hasan) recently proposed that the packages be combined into a single 30-kilogram unit. The technical implementation will be handled by Bulog, so the distribution could be made simultaneous,” Airlangga explained.
Previously, President Prabowo Subianto, during a limited meeting at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday (7/9), instructed his ministers to prepare various social assistance programmes, including the rice aid that will continue through the final three months of 2026.
“The President’s directive is that (the rice assistance) be continued in the following months, namely October, November, and December,” Airlangga said during the press conference explaining the contents of the meeting at the Presidential Palace.
He added that President Prabowo also issued several instructions regarding the government’s readiness to face El Niño.