Bapanas Accelerates SPHP and Food Aid Distribution as Rice Prices Rise in Zones 2-3

Rice prices have climbed in Indonesia's price zones 2 and 3, covering parts of Sumatra outside South Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, and the Maluku-Papua region, according to official price monitoring. In response, the National Food Agency (Bapanas) has instructed regional governments and the Food Security Task Force of the National Police in 38 provinces, working with state logistics agency Bulog, to accelerate the distribution of moderately priced rice (SPHP) and government rice assistance.

Bapanas reported that realization of an additional SPHP assignment of 200,000 tonnes stood at 155,300 tonnes, or 77.6 percent, as of 5 November. Rice food assistance for October to December, totaling around 1 million tonnes, began rolling out in November. As of 5 November, national average prices stood at Rp16,214 per kilogram for premium rice and Rp13,715 per kilogram for medium rice. The accelerated distribution was covered by ANTARA and separately reported by Liputan6.