Indonesia's Rice Aid Program Faces Distribution Challenges

Delayed Delivery Hits 18% of Target

Indonesia's rice aid distribution program for the period of November-December 2025 has encountered significant delays, with only 18% of the targeted 365,000 tons having been distributed as of late November 2025. Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, CEO of Perum Bulog, attributed the delay to the simultaneous procurement of cooking oil, which temporarily slowed down the distribution process.

Scope and Scale of Assistance Program

The rice aid program is designed to support 18.2 million recipients across the country. In addition to rice, the government has also allocated 73 million liters of cooking oil, with each recipient receiving 4 liters. This comprehensive assistance package aims to alleviate the financial burden on low-income households during a critical period.

Implementation Challenges

The distribution process, managed by Perum Bulog, faced logistical complications due to the concurrent distribution of cooking oil. Ramdhani explained that the organization had to wait for the cooking oil supplies before proceeding with the full rollout of the rice aid, resulting in the observed delay. Despite the challenges, efforts are being made to expedite the remaining distribution to meet the targeted quantities by the end of the period.