In Order for the Basic Food Program to Drive the Local Economy, This is the Minister's Message

ARGA MAKMUR (March 2, 2020) - Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara ensured that there would be no problems with food supply in line with the addition of the IDR50,000 Basic Food Program index per KPM (Beneficiary Family).

Juliari stated that food ingredients in the Basic Food Program can be supplied from the local area. "Prioritize local wisdom. So the local government can choose food ingredients that are produced and commonly consumed in the local area," said Juliari after attending the Inauguration, Launching, and Handover of Social Assistance, at the Regional Hall of North Bengkulu Regency, in Arga Makmur, Monday (02/03/2020).

On various occasions, Juliari stated that the foodstuffs in the Basic Food Program should be increased, including meat, chicken, and beans. "If certain areas produce a lot of fish, the provision of fish can be maximized. Thus, the Sembako Program can drive the local economy," said the former Chairman of the Indonesian Motor Association (IMI).

In the Inauguration, Launching, and Handover of Social Assistance activities, Juliari witnessed the launching of the Sembako Program which was marked by the disbursement of social assistance to 10 (KPM).

The Ministry of Social Affairs noted that the recipients of the Basic Food Program in North Bengkulu Regency included 19,433 KPM with a total value of IDR 9,731,800,000. Then, in Bengkulu Province, the recipients of the Basic Food Program were 125,117 KPM with total assistance of IDR61,662,100,000.

The Minister also handed over operational vehicles to Family Hope Program (PKH) assistants. Then, the Minister of Social Affairs also handed over laptops to Sub-district Level Social Welfare Workers (TKSK), and handed over Mandiri graduation certificates, and inaugurated the North Bengkulu Regency Youth Organization.

The Minister's visit cannot be separated from the general policy of President Joko Widodo and Vice President KH. Ma'ruf Amin will continue to accelerate the reduction of poverty. Citing a survey by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), in March 2019, the poverty rate in Indonesia was recorded at 9.41 percent. As for the latest BPS survey, namely September 2019, the poverty rate fell again, to 9.22 percent.

Anticipating Coronavirus

In anticipating the impact of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the government has launched fiscal instruments. One of them is through food social assistance, namely the Sembako Program. The government prepared fiscal instruments worth IDR10 trillion, of which the Ministry of Social Affairs received IDR4.56 trillion.

The government, through the Ministry of Social Affairs, decided to increase the assistance index by IDR50,000/KPM/month in the Basic Food Program, so that from the original IDR150,000/KPM/month to IDR200,000/KPM/month.

The additional assistance index of IDR50,000 per KPM is effective starting this March. "I ask KPM to immediately spend these additional funds, in order to drive the economy," said the Minister.

An additional IDR50,000 of basic food is added to the accounts of 15.2 million KPM of the Sembako Program for the next six months, or from March to August 2020.

This policy was taken to anticipate the onset of a slowdown in the Indonesian economy. "This policy is the government's response to maintain consumption at the lowest level so that it is not disturbed by the economic slowdown," said Juliari.

"If in six months the economic outlook has improved, the value of the Basic Food Program assistance will return to IDR150,000 per month," said the Minister.

As is known, starting in 2020, the government has transformed the Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) program into the Basic Food Program. This step is one of the breakthroughs to improve community welfare.

In the BPNT program, the index value of assistance is set at IDR110,000 / KPM/month which can be spent on food in the form of rice and/or eggs. In the Sembako Program, the index increases to IDR150,000/KPM/month, which can be spent on commodities containing carbohydrates (corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, sago, and other tubers), animal protein (chicken, meat, fish), vegetable protein (tofu, tempeh, and beans) and vitamin minerals (vegetables and fruits).

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs RI