Indonesia's Bapanas to Begin Phase 2 Rice Aid on August 17

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) has tasked the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) with distributing 997,200 tons of rice aid during its second phase to 33.24 million beneficiary families (KPM) starting August 17, 2026, to safeguard purchasing power and national food stability.Bapanas Head and Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the rice aid distribution is a social safety net to protect public purchasing power, bolster national food security, and assist households in meeting basic nutritional needs."We have tasked Bulog to distribute government food reserves to provide 10 kilograms of rice assistance to 33,244,408 recipients for a three-month allocation, covering July to September 2026, to be distributed in a single rollout," Amran said in a written statement in Jakarta on Sunday, August 2, 2026.Rachmi Widiriani, Director of Food Distribution and Reserves at Bapanas, added that the second phase will be rolled out simultaneously to align with the 81st Anniversary of Indonesian Independence, reinforcing the government's active presence among the public."The distribution of this food aid will take place in August, coinciding with the August 17 celebrations across all regions. The mandate from the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, reinforced by the Head of Bapanas, notes that August represents an ideal window for distribution," Rachmi said.Alongside the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), Bapanas is also encouraging distribution through Red and White Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (KDKMP) as part of government infrastructure. The move aims to maximize the benefits of KDKMPs for local communities."Existing KDKMPs can serve as food aid distribution centers. For instance, if a village features a large KDKMP with adequate space, a substantial warehouse, and is close to beneficiaries' homes, it can be used as a distribution point," she said.The recipient database utilized for the second phase is guaranteed to draw from the updated National Single Social and Economic Data (DTSEN). As a DTSEN user, Bapanas has collaborated with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Statistics Indonesia (BPS)."Currently, the total number of food aid recipients remains identical to the first phase. That figure stands at 33,244,408. We are using the third version of DTSEN, updated on July 10," Rachmi explained.Therefore, Bapanas has requested that regional governments immediately coordinate with local Bulog offices to prepare for implementation."We hope that the distribution for this phase can achieve a 100 percent completion rate," Rachmi said.The government, through Bapanas, has officially mandated Perum Bulog to disburse Government Food Reserves (CPP) for the July–September allocation period. In an assignment letter dated July 30, 2026, the agency emphasized that the rice food aid program functions as a social safety net established by the state.The second phase of this pro-people initiative stems from direct instructions issued by President Prabowo Subianto. A total of 997,200 tons of rice will be distributed to 33.24 million beneficiary families (KPM), with each family receiving 10 kilograms to cover the three-month allocation. Total government funding earmarked for the initiative stands at Rp17.52 trillion.The first phase of distribution, covering February and March 2026, successfully reached 33.14 million beneficiary families (KPM), representing a 99.7 percent realization rate. In total volume, 664,880 tons of rice and 132,970 kiloliters of cooking oil were delivered.Read: 900 Red and White Cooperatives to Trial Social Aid RolloutClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News