A worker carries sacks of rice for food aid to be distributed to the community at a Bulog warehouse in Indramayu, West Java (Photo:en.antaranews.com)Jakarta (VNA) – Head of Indonesia’sNational Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, stated on October 16 thatthe government is implementing a number of measures, including food aid, tocounter the rising trend in rice prices.
According to Arief, some 640 tonnes of rice must bedistributed to 21.3 million beneficiary families in three months.
He emphasised the task is given by the Presidentto Bapanas and the National Logistics Agency (Bulog). This is a nationaltask to ensure people’s lives.
He pointed out that Bapanas is also running the Food Supply and PricesStabilization Program (SPHP), which involves the distribution of affordablepremium-quality rice through modern retail stores and traditional markets.
Adi further noted thatPresident Joko Widodo has instructed Bulog to distribute 200,000 tons of ricethrough rice mills across the country to stabilise prices.
He also mentioned that in order to curb the rise in cayenne pepper prices,Bapanas has requested the state food holding company ID FOOD to coordinate withproduction centers to distribute their surplus to other areas./.
