Government Extends Food Aid Programme to Safeguard Purchasing Power

The government has decided to extend the Food Aid programme for three months starting July 2026. This policy targets 33.2 million beneficiary families as a measure to maintain public purchasing power amidst potential food price volatility and the onset of the lean season. The decision was taken during a Limited Coordination Meeting on Food Commodity Price Developments chaired by Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan in Jakarta on Tuesday (9/6/2026). Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan stated that food aid remains a crucial instrument for ensuring public access to staple goods while aiding national food price stabilisation. “The government has tasked Bulog with continuing the Food Aid programme for three months to 33.2 million families, commencing in July 2026. This programme is expected to maintain public purchasing power while helping to stabilise food prices, particularly during the planting period and lean season, which could potentially affect food supply,” Zulhas said. The meeting was also attended by Minister of Trade Budi Santoso, Vice Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, Vice Head of BP BUMN Tedi Bharata, President Director of Perum Bulog Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, and several representatives from related ministries and agencies. The government considers the extension of food aid necessary to anticipate pressure on staple food prices that could potentially arise during certain periods. In addition to assisting low-income communities, the programme is also expected to maintain the balance of supply and demand in the market. During the meeting, the government also discussed several other measures to strengthen national food security. One of these is a plan to provide a soybean subsidy of Rp2,000 per kilogram with an initial allocation reaching 250,000 tonnes. President Director of Perum Bulog Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani said that Bulog is ready to carry out the additional assignment given by the government because it currently has adequate Government Rice Reserve stock and support from the national distribution network. “Bulog is ready to implement the additional Food Aid assignment given by the government. With strong rice stocks and the support of the national distribution network, we are optimistic this programme can run smoothly, be right on target, and provide tangible benefits to the community,” said Rizal. According to him, the distribution of food aid not only serves to maintain public purchasing power but also acts as an instrument to stabilise rice prices at the consumer level and strengthen national food security. In addition to food aid, Bulog is also prepared to carry out assignments related to the soybean subsidy programme, which is currently still in the finalisation stage at the government level. This food aid extension forms part of the government’s policy package to maintain community economic stability amidst the dynamics of food commodity prices and global economic uncertainty.