RASKIN Distribution at A Glance

The Distribution of RASKIN (Rice for the Poor Households) has started since 1998 which aims to strengthen food security of poor households. RASKIN  which previously called OPK (Special Market Operation) was launched as a result of the monetary crises including food vulnerability that strike Indonesia in 1998. The program was converted to RASKIN in 2002 when its function extended as part of social protection programs, not only as emergency program (social safety net). According to a scientific study, the name of RASKIN was chosen in order to make this program accurately achieves its target and goal to beneficiaries.

Until 2006, the data of RASKIN beneficiaries were based on BKKBN (National Family Planning Board) data. Not all poor households can be accessed by those data.

Starting in 2007, the Government has used BPS (Central Statistics Agency) data on Poor Households (RTM) to implement RASKIN Program. 15.8 million RTS (target poor households) of 19.1 million RTS recorded by BPS had received RASKIN in 2007. In 2008, all RTS above can be covered by RASKIN and that was the highest achievement since this program declared in 1998.

The number of RASKIN distribution during 2005-2009 ranged between 1.6 million tons to 3.2 million tons. Up to 2007, the redeemed price of RASKIN was Rp.1,000/kg and increased to Rp.1,600/kg since 2008. It means that not only RASKIN helps poor households to strengthen their food security, but to maintain the stability of rice price as well.  RASKIN has also reduced demand for rice to the market by about 18.5 million in 2009. In addition, the changing of redeemed price from Rp.1,000/kg to Rp.1,600/kg has already considered to the increasing number of target households that can be reached. The price is still lower than the market price of about Rp.5,000 – 5,500/kg at that time.

The impact of RASKIN to price stability can be seen when RASKIN was delivered less than 12 months in 2006  (11 months) and 2007 (10 months). At that time, the rice price was sharply increased, and the Government decided to launched Pure Market Operation (OPM) and the Special Market Operations from the Government’s Rice Reserve (OPK - CBP).

There are some constraints in the implementation of RASKIN, especially in the target precision and  budget availability. Until now, the amount of rice to be distributed will be determined after the budget is available. Moreover, the quotition of RASKIN amount is not always carried out at the beginning of the year, and might be modified in the mid-year due to various factors. This would complicate the planning of stock preparation, financial planning and calculation of fees and charges.

The dynamic data of RTS has become another problem in the field. There are numbers of poor households beyond BPS data which can not access RASKIN. In this situation, local wisdom and "sincerity" among poor households in sharing their portions, usually binned by the local Government,  are the best solutions although this method frequently be blamed for inaccurate targeting.

Meanwhile, price accuracy is constrained by geographical barriers. Some RTS are located far from the distribution point, which is the final destination of RASKIN delivery by BULOG. Bringing the rice closer to their homes cause them to pay more than the price stated, because they have to pay other expenses such as handling and transportation from Distribution Point (TD) to their homes. The role of local Government to help RTS access the RASKIN with the right price and the closest destination needs to be encouraged, one of them is providing extra budget to make this program successful.

Appreciation to the local Government should be granted due to their attention to allocate extra budget as explained above and guard the implementation of RASKIN. By showing their concern for RASKIN program, they had shown their concern to alleviate poverty. The awareness, that RASKIN is a collectively task of both national and local government to help reducing the expenditure burden of 18.5 million RTS (in 2009), should be developed continuously.

Some improvements should be carried out endlesssly to achieve the right target, right price and right time of RASKIN distribution,. One of them is to distribute RASKIN through small shops (Wardes) that spread all over the villages and not only to the distribution points stated by the local Government. In this way, RASKIN distribution becomes closer to the RTS and they can buy rice in selected amount according to their purchasing power for one month at the price stated. Distribution through Wardes was initiated from a pilot project in late 2008 and began to implement in broad range since 2009.

Improvement in targeting accuracy is continuously conducted by giving assistance in the distribution pattern through community groups in 2009, cooperate with many kinds of community groups in order to help poor people accessing their basic needs. (BULOG@2010)