Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. President Joko Widodo, fondly known as  Jokowi, inspected the rice reserves at the warehouse belonging to the State Logistics Board (Bulog)  in Dramaga Bogor, West Java, on Monday (11/9/23) in a bid to monitor rice reserves amid ongoing drought. "In this warehouse, we have 1.6 million tons, with an additional 400,000 tons on the way. There will be a total of 2 million tons in stock. Normally, our stock is only 1.2 million tons. There's no need to worry," he said in his statement on Monday (11/9/23). President Jokowi ordered rice assistance to be immediately distributed to the public. The amount of rice assistance provided by the government from September to November 2023 was 210,000 tons. "Starting from September 1st, I order the distribution of rice assistance to the people. Approximately 210,000 tons are distributed by Bulog every month for food assistance. It has already begun," President Jokowi said. Indonesia and many other countries are currently facing an extended drought due to El Nino. In Indonesia, President Jokowi said that 7 provinces have been experiencing severe drought conditions. "I visited the Bulog warehouses early this morning (in Bogor), and later in Jakarta, and maybe in other regions as well. (I need) to make sure that there is stock, there is rice," he said. (ndt/hn/nm)