"It is part of the strategy to help the community cope with price fluctuations," Deputy of Food Availability and Stabilization at Bapanas, I Gusti Ketut Astawa, confirmed here on Wednesday.
Budget verification and finalization are underway, so distribution can begin promptly once the budget is officially available.
Besides distributing rice assistance, Bapanas is also expediting the Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) program.
Distribution of medium-quality rice from the government rice reserve (CBP) stock will focus on areas where rice prices exceed the retail price ceiling and where it is not the harvest season.
Eastern Indonesia is the main priority due to the relatively high level of demand.
Alongside these two main programs, Bapanas continues to intensify the Cheap Food Movement (GPM).
By the second week of June, as many as 288 GPM events had been held, including both national and local activities across 17 provinces and 99 districts and cities.
In terms of distribution, the agency has also been focusing on enhancing the stock and transaction recording system at the Cipinang Main Rice Market (PIBC).
Bapanas encourages optimizing reporting to improve transparency and data accuracy.
Jakarta-owned food security company Food Station has also been urged to increase the frequency of cheap market events and bolster the real-time distribution tracking system.
"We are closely monitoring the recent dynamics in rice prices. Based on the food price panel data, there has been an increase in prices in several districts and cities," Astawa remarked.
Related news: Govt to regulate rice aid to safeguard farmers from price drops
Related news: Minister pushes irrigation improvement as dry season looms
Related news: Probe sought as rice prices defy high reserves : Minister
Translator: Putu Indah, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
