In response to the challenges posed by El Nino and global supply chain disruptions, which have led to a significant drop in rice production and soaring global rice prices, the Indonesian government, under the leadership of Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, has announced the continuation of its rice reserve food assistance program into 2024. This initiative aims to protect the poor from the volatile world rice market, exacerbated by export bans from countries like India and Bangladesh. This move, announced amidst a presidential election dispute, underscores the government's commitment to sustaining social assistance programs initiated during President Jokowi's tenure, despite a 5.88 million ton decrease in rice production as of July 2023 and rising rice prices in major producing countries such as Thailand and Vietnam.