"The regulation aims to ensure legal certainty for the distribution of food aid,"
Jakarta (ANTARA) - National Food Agency (Bapanas) Head Arief Prasetyo Adi stated that his side is preparing a revision of Presidential Regulation Number 125 of 2022 on the sustainability of food aid to overcome extreme poverty across Indonesia.

"The regulation aims to ensure legal certainty for the distribution of food aid," Adi noted in a statement from his office on Saturday.

According to the agency head, the revision would become the basis for the continuation of food aid distribution to overcome extreme poverty throughout Indonesia if Bapanas or state-owned logistics company (Bulog) appointed a new president director.

He then remarked that earlier, 74 areas in districts and cities were found to be vulnerable to food insecurity, though the figure had reduced to 68 in 2023.

The government continues to make three main efforts to tackle food insecurity, namely meeting food availability through nine basic commodities, ensuring affordability of basic commodities, and food utilization, Adi stated.

"Food-prone areas in 2023 have dropped to 68 districts and cities, from 74 districts and cities," he added.

He also noted that the 10 kg rice food assistance program provided by the government was needed by the community, especially those with low incomes.

Adi remarked that rice food assistance is a government program in the form of rice distribution to beneficiary families.

This program is one of the uses of government rice reserves in accordance with the mandate of Presidential Regulation Number 125 of 2022 concerning the Management of Government Food Reserves.

This assistance is provided to low-income communities based on data from the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture for the acceleration of extreme poverty reduction.

This assistance has been provided since early 2023 and will continue in 2024. The rice assistance had been distributed since January-March 2024 to 22 million beneficiary families based on data from the ministry. The assistance will be extended until June 2024.

Related news: Food aid has economic, not social function: Indrawati
Related news: President Jokowi to monitor state budget capability for food aid

Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
Copyright © ANTARA 2024