"Amid joint struggle to secure food security, the government continues to make efforts to secure the government rice reserves managed by Bulog (State Logistics Agency)," he said while accompanying President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to a rice assistance handover event in Singkawang, West Kalimantan, on Wednesday.
According to him, safe CBP will ensure the continuity of the government's food assistance program.
Thohir said that food security must be a shared concern and be prepared seriously. Currently, he added, the global situation is not quite favorable for Indonesia.
He said that Indonesia also needs to mitigate the impact of the El Nino phenomenon, which will potentially last longer than previous estimates. A drought that extends for too long a period can pose the threat of food scarcity in Indonesia.
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On Wednesday, rice assistance of 8,261 tons, or 77.7 percent of the target of 10,637 tons, meant for 934,256 targeted beneficiary families, was distributed in West Kalimantan.
In addition to handing over rice assistance, President Widodo also visited Bulog's warehousing complex in West Singkawang sub-district, Singkawang city, West Kalimantan.
At the warehousing complex, the President said that the government will continue to monitor the availability of the state budget to ensure the continuity of the food assistance program.
"After June (2024), I will check whether we have the budget or not. If it is available, it (the assistance) will be continued, but I'm not making any promises," he added.
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Translator: Indra Arief, Raka Adji
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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