Indonesia considers extending rice handout programme to year-end

Indonesia has been giving 10kg of rice monthly to more than 20 million low-income families since March 2023. - PHOTO: AFP

JAKARTA (Reuters): Indonesia may further extend its rice handout programme by six months until December despite easing prices, outgoing President Joko Widodo said on Monday.

Southeast Asia's biggest economy, Indonesia has been giving 10 kilograms of rice monthly to more than 20 million low-income families since March 2023 to help them cope with high prices of the staple as the El Nino weather pattern-fuelled drought hit output.