National

Indonesia Begins 30 Kg Rice Aid for 33.2 Million People

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 18, 2026•4 min read

The government has begun distributing rice food aid for October-December 2026 to 33.2 million decile 1-4 beneficiaries via the Red and White Village/Subdistrict Cooperatives. Each beneficiary receives 30 kg of rice, with a national requirement of about 1 million tons.

Key Facts

The government has begun distributing rice food aid for the October-December 2026 period to 33.2 million beneficiaries in deciles 1-4; distribution started in the week of 12-16 October 2026.
Each beneficiary receives 30 kilograms of rice in total: 10 kilograms per month over three months, distributed all at once in a single pickup.
Total rice prepared reaches about 1 million tons (1 billion kilograms); the National Food Agency (Bapanas) estimates the Government Rice Reserve need at around 997,000 tons.
Distribution is carried out through the Red and White Village/Subdistrict Cooperatives (KDKMP) as new distribution points, replacing the old pattern of pickup at subdistrict offices or village halls.
Beneficiaries are determined using the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN); deciles 1-4 are the 40 percent of families with the lowest relative welfare.
The government is also distributing Stabilization of Supply and Food Prices (SPHP) rice at Rp12,500 per kilogram with an additional allocation of 1 million tons until March 2027.

30 Kg Rice Aid Begins for 33.2 Million Beneficiaries

The Indonesian government has officially begun distributing rice food aid for the October to December 2026 period. The program targets 33.2 million people in deciles 1 through 4, the groups with the lowest welfare levels in the beneficiary classification.

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said the food aid distribution began this week. Each beneficiary receives 30 kilograms of rice in total, at 10 kilograms per month over three months, distributed all at once in a single pickup.

"The food social assistance has been prepared for October, November, and December; this week it has started running. And it will be distributed through the Red and White Village/Subdistrict Cooperatives," Zulkifli Hasan said in South Lampung, Thursday (15/10/2026).

1 Million Tons Total, Distributed via Red and White Cooperatives

To cover the program, the government has prepared about 1 million tons of rice, equivalent to 1 billion kilograms. The National Food Agency (Bapanas) estimates the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) requirement for this distribution at around 997,000 tons.

Unlike previous periods, distribution is now carried out through the Red and White Village/Subdistrict Cooperatives (KDKMP). The new scheme is expected to strengthen oversight at the village level while ensuring social aid reaches the rightful recipients.

Zulkifli Hasan stressed the importance of targeting accuracy in the distribution process. Cooperative managers and village heads were asked to carefully verify beneficiary data in the field. According to the latest data, more than 10,070 red-and-white cooperatives have begun operating in villages, while more than 28,000 cooperative physical buildings have been fully completed.

Areas Without Ready Cooperatives Keep the Old Mechanism

Bulog said the administrative process for distribution is still underway. Bulog has coordinated with the Ministry of Finance, particularly the Directorate General of Budget, and is awaiting budget certainty through a Directorate General of Budget letter to Bapanas before a distribution order is issued. Zulkifli acknowledged the 30 kilograms of rice aid could not yet be distributed in some regions pending administrative completion and beneficiary data matching.

Not all regions have KDKMPs ready to operate. For areas with a limited number of cooperatives, such as parts of Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and Papua, distribution continues using the previous mechanism. "It goes back to the routine food aid distribution as in previous months," said Rizal, Bulog's Director of Operations. Under the previous practice, rice was distributed through subdistrict offices or village halls by waiting for an invitation from the local Social Affairs Office and bringing a national ID card.

Rp12,500 SPHP Rice Also Prepared Against Price Rises

Beyond the free food aid, the government is strengthening price stabilization through Stabilization of Supply and Food Prices (SPHP) rice sold at Rp12,500 per kilogram. The SPHP program is running with an additional allocation of one million tons until March 2027, plus 150,000 tons of SPHP feed corn until December 2026 to safeguard supply and anticipate a potentially dry season and crop failure.

Beneficiaries are determined using the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN), which as of 10 July 2026 covers 95.98 million family records and 290.13 million individual records. Residents who feel eligible but are not yet registered can submit proposals through the Cek Bansos app or contact their village or subdistrict officials. The aid is also intended to help communities cope with the impact of the dry season, which could push up prices of basic necessities.