President Jokowi Ensures Distribution of Food, El Nino Direct Cash Assistance in Banyumas

President Jokowi hands over food assistance from the Government rice reserves at the Bulog Klahang Warehouse, Banyumas regency, Central Java province, Wednesday (01/03). (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat’s Bureau of Press, Media, and Information/Rusman)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo emphasized that the El Nino direct cash assistance is a special assistance for beneficiaries affected by the drought.

“Because this is a special direct cash assistance, not everyone gets it, but they are not chosen either,” he said when ensuring the distribution of the assistance in his dialogue with a number of beneficiaries of food assistance from the Government rice reserve at the Bulog Klahang Warehouse, Banyumas regency, Central Java province, Wednesday (01/03).

President Jokowi also emphasized that the El Nino direct cash assistance is provided by the Government to help people deal with rising prices due to the long dry season.

“The El Nino direct cash assistance is aimed to cover the increase in prices in market because the last dry season was long,” he added.

On the occasion, the Head of State also made sure that the food assistance from the Government rice reserves amounting to 10 kilograms for each beneficiary has been distributed. He also said that similar assistance will be distributed until March 2024.

“I need to make sure that in this January all of you have received the food assistance. Have all of you received the assistance? You’ll get it in January, and again in February and March,” he said.

Furthermore, the President also said that the Government will continue to distribute the assistance if the fund in the state budget is sufficient. “I need to calculate the fund in our state budget first. If it is sufficient, we will continue to distribute the assistance in next April, May, and June,” he said.

Also joining the President on the occasion were Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo Adi, Acting Governor of Central Java Nana Sudjana, and Acting Banyumas Regent Hanung Cahyo Saputro. (Presidential Secretariat’s Bureau of Press, Media, and Information/AIT) (TM/LW)