Inbizzy, Depok, — Indonesia’s National Food Agency (Bapanas) has begun distributing rice aid to 18,277,083 registered recipients across the country. Each recipient will receive 10 kilograms of rice for the months of June and July 2025, as part of a one-time distribution scheme executed through the state logistics agency, Bulog.
The initiative is formalized in assignment letter No. 170/TS.03.03/K/7/2025 dated July 4, 2025. Bapanas Head Arief Prasetyo Adi confirmed that the program reflects the administration’s strong commitment to food security and public welfare under President Prabowo Subianto.
“As of July 4, Bapanas has officially assigned Bulog to carry out the rice distribution. This demonstrates President Prabowo’s clear focus on supporting the people. The rice distributed is of good quality, maintained carefully by Bulog,” Arief said in an official press statement on Saturday (July 5).
18.2 Million Recipients Across 38 Provinces
According to Arief, the rice aid will reach recipients across 38 provinces in Indonesia. Beneficiary data is derived from the Integrated National Socioeconomic Data (DTSEN), updated jointly by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Statistics Indonesia (BPS).
In case of changes in recipient eligibility during distribution, Bapanas has also prepared a backup list of up to 4 million substitute beneficiaries to ensure the program’s continuity.
The distribution involves collaboration with local governments, the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and the Armed Forces (TNI), due to regional variations in logistical challenges. “The government is confident that all distribution challenges can be managed collaboratively,” said Arief.
Stabilizing Rice Prices and Controlling Inflation
The rice aid program is part of the government’s broader strategy to mitigate inflation and protect household purchasing power. Data from BPS shows that rice inflation peaked at 5.61% in September 2023, but fell sharply to 0.48% by December 2023 following the rollout of rice aid.
A similar pattern occurred in 2024. Rice inflation reached 5.32% in February, the year’s highest, but dropped to 0.1% in December after the aid program was extended for nine months.
In 2025, rice inflation began to rise again, climbing from 0.36% in January to 1% in June, according to BPS. This prompted the government to resume the aid program in July as a timely measure to contain market volatility.
Supported by State Budget and BPK Recommendations
Arief noted that the rice aid distribution could only proceed after the agency received Additional Budget Allocation (ABT) from the Ministry of Finance. The aid rollout also aligns with recommendations from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) to improve administrative processes.
Part of President Prabowo’s Pro-People Initiative
This rice distribution initiative is a flagship social program under President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. By delivering affordable and high-quality staple food to low-income households, the government aims to strengthen food resilience and drive inclusive economic growth.
