Mataram City Government Continues Distribution of Food Assistance to 46,983 Food Aid Recipients

Mataram (ANTARA) - The Mataram City Government, West Nusa Tenggara Province, is continuing the distribution of the food assistance programme in the form of rice and cooking oil to 46,983 food aid recipients (PBP) in Mataram City in 2026.

“Today (Wednesday, 1/4), we are continuing the distribution of food assistance to PBPs in 47 kelurahan across Mataram City,” said the Head of the Mataram City Food Security Agency (DKP) Sudirman, in Mataram on Wednesday.

Previously, food assistance for the February-March 2026 allocation had already been distributed to PBPs in three kelurahan across Mataram City, before entering the Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah holiday and collective leave period.

The distribution was carried out as a sign of the launch of food assistance for 2026, while the remainder is being continued today. Taking into consideration that if distribution were carried out during the Eid al-Fitr holiday and leave, it was feared it would not be maximally absorbed.

For that reason, out of 50 kelurahan in Mataram City, the DKP only distributed to three kelurahan, namely Dasan Agung Baru Kelurahan with 274 PBPs, Mataram Barat with 205 PBPs, and Monjok Timur with 241 PBPs.

“Meanwhile, the remainder in 47 kelurahan, we are distributing starting today and targeting completion within the next week,” he said.

“Each month, every household receives 10 kilograms of rice and 2 litres of cooking oil,” he said.

The government’s food assistance programme, he said, aims to reduce the expenditure burden on poor or vulnerable families, prevent food insecurity, lower stunting rates, and maintain the stability of essential commodity prices.

“It is hoped that the food assistance received can help meet the basic needs of the community after Eid al-Fitr,” he said.

On the other hand, Sudirman said that the total number of PBPs in Mataram City in 2026 is recorded at 46,983 households. This number has increased by around 15,000 households from the 31,046 recipients in 2025.

“This addition is in response to proposals from the lowest-level officials, namely neighbourhood heads and lurah, which were then processed by the central government through the National Social and Economic Single Data (DTSEN),” he said.

“Before the assistance is distributed, we along with the team have gone directly to the Bulog warehouse to ensure the quality of the rice to be distributed. Alhamdulillah, so far there have been no recipients complaining about the quality of the rice provided,” he said.