Undip Student from Alor Complains About Rice Prices, Agriculture Minister Amran Immediately Visits
A video of Diponegoro University (Undip) student Adriano Padama, who is from Alor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), voicing complaints about rice prices to Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has gone viral on social media. He said rice prices in several areas of Alor could soar to Rp 25,000–Rp 30,000 per kilogram when distribution is disrupted.
Responding to the issue, Amran immediately made a working visit to Alor Regency on Saturday (8/8/2026). Amran confirmed that rice stocks in Perum Bulog warehouses are in a secure condition.
He also said rice prices in Alor have now reached Rp 13,000 per kg, equivalent to prices in Jakarta.
“We cancelled a leadership meeting in Jakarta. We flew directly from Jakarta, from Central Java, straight to Alor. We have seen everything, and we have fulfilled all requests under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture. Rice is secure, it is in the warehouses now. The price is Rp 13,000, the same as Jakarta. We will no longer have difficulty with rice,” Amran said.
Amran also asked Perum Bulog to hold market operations if the public needs additional rice supplies. For the NTT region, the government has prepared a food aid quota of 1,200 tonnes.
“Bulog will conduct market operations. There is no limit. If anyone wants to buy rice, we will release it. Hold markets wherever they are needed. Cheap markets,” he added.
Alor Becomes First Region to Receive 30 kg Rice Aid
During his visit, Amran also handed over the second phase of food aid to the people of Alor. Alor Regency became the first region to receive rice aid for three months at once, namely July, August, and September 2026.
The total aid received by each beneficiary reached 30 kg, or 10 kg of rice per month. In Alor Regency, 37,338 people are recorded as aid recipients. The aid was symbolically handed over by Minister Amran together with Perum BULOG President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani.
Amran said the distribution is part of the government’s efforts to ensure food aid reaches communities down to the village level. He said the aid will target more than 33 million beneficiaries.
“The aid from the President of the Republic of Indonesia is intended for 33 million people across Indonesia, and here in Alor it is the first,” Amran said.
“Why? Yesterday there was a student from Alor. We were giving a speech at Undip, Semarang, Central Java, when he suddenly shouted to voice the aspirations of the people of Alor. So we went directly from Central Java and cancelled all meetings in Jakarta, the leadership meetings.
Our brothers and sisters in Alor, people far from Jakarta, are far more important than a meeting,” Amran continued.
SPHP Rice Distribution in Alor Reaches 764 Tonnes
According to National Food Agency (Bapanas) records, the realisation of SPHP rice distribution in Alor Regency during the March–July 2026 period has reached 764,070 kg. Distribution through Rumah Pangan Kita (RPK) amounted to 356,470 kg, retailers in public markets 352,150 kg, and the Cheap Food Movement (GPM) 55,450 kg.
In addition to SPHP rice, the government is also distributing Government Rice Reserves (CBP) in the form of rice and cooking oil food aid. As of 31 July 2026, the realisation of national food aid distribution has reached 662,867,840 kg of rice and 132,573,568 litres of cooking oil, or 99.70% of the distribution target to 33.24 million Food Aid Recipients (PBP).
Specifically in NTT, the first phase of food aid distribution has been 100% realised to 837,612 PBP, equivalent to 16,752,240 kg. For Alor Regency, 746,000 kg has also been distributed. Thus, the government has disbursed CBP for the people of Alor amounting to 1.5 million kg, from the SPHP rice realisation of 764,000 kg plus 746,000 kg.
Meanwhile, for the July–September 2026 food aid allocation, Alor Regency received an allocation for 37,338 PBP. This allocation strengthens the government’s various intervention instruments to maintain public access to staple food in island regions.
With SPHP rice distribution having reached 764,070 kg during the March–July 2026 period and the food aid programme supporting 37,338 PBP in Alor Regency, Bapanas together with Bulog continue to strengthen government intervention in maintaining supply stability and food prices. These efforts are made so that the public, including those in island regions, can still obtain rice at affordable prices with adequate supply.