Merah Putih Village Cooperatives to Distribute Rice Aid Starting Independence Day
The National Food Agency (Bapanas) has stated that the Merah Putih Village/Kelurahan Cooperative (KDKMP) will become one of the distribution points for the second phase of rice food aid, set to begin simultaneously on 17 August 2026. This measure is intended to optimise the cooperative’s infrastructure while bringing distribution services closer to the beneficiary communities.
Bapanas Director of Food Distribution and Reserve, Rachmi Widiriani, explained that a KDKMP can be utilised as a distribution location if it possesses adequate warehouses and storage facilities and is situated near the residences of the beneficiary families (KPM). The use of cooperatives is also expected to make the food aid distribution process more effective.
“The existing KDKMP can serve as one of the food aid distribution points. If, for example, a village has a large KDKMP with a sizeable warehouse close to the living quarters of the food aid recipients, it can be used as an outlet location. We can optimise the facilities owned by the cooperatives,” Rachmi stated during the Socialisation of Rice Food Aid Distribution event.
The second phase of the food assistance programme will target 33,244,408 beneficiaries, with an allocation of 10 kilogrammes of rice per month for July, August, and September 2026, distributed at once. The distribution was carried out based on a letter of assignment from Bapanas to Perum Bulog issued on 30 July 2026.
Rachmi elaborated that the food aid distribution was deliberately scheduled to coincide with the celebration of the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, so that people, particularly those in the 1st to 4th decile groups, could directly feel the government’s presence through the social protection programme. “This distribution of food aid will take place in August, in conjunction with the 17th August celebrations across all regions. The mandate from the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, reinforced by the Head of Bapanas, is that the August distribution is a very good and appropriate moment,” he said.