"The El Nino BLT is expected to boost people's purchasing power due to the prolonged drought caused by El Nino that reduced our farmers' productivity," he noted in a press statement after visiting Rogojampi Market in Banyuwangi, East Java, on Wednesday.
According to Jokowi, the government has set an El Nino BLT assistance for communities affected by the phenomenon of warming sea levels that caused drought and decreased food production. Assistance, amounting to Rp400 thousand, is given to beneficiaries.
"After the distribution is complete, we can see how much the people's purchasing power will increase," Jokowi remarked.
On that occasion, he noted that national food reserves are sufficient to meet people's needs during the year-end holiday season.
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He stated that food reserves amount to 1.4 million tons until the end of 2023.
"Usually, we only have 800 thousand tons to 1.2 million tons. For now, we already have 1.4 million tons of food stock, and the number will increase too," he remarked.
Apart from the El Nino BLT, the president noted that the government is also distributing food aid from government rice reserves (CBP) of 10 kilograms per month for beneficiaries starting from September 2023.
"Later, in January to March 2024, we will disburse another stock. Each beneficiary will get 10 kilograms of rice per month," he stated at the Genteng Post Office, Banyuwangi, where he disbursed the assistance.
Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa, and Banyuwangi District Head Ipuk Fiestiandani also accompanied the president during his visit to Rogojampi Market.
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Translator: Indra Arief P, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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