Program OPK Beras dalam JPS Pangan: Kapan Harus Berakhir?

The poor either transient or chronic incread significantly during the crisis. The poor has limited access to food. If this problem is not solved, it will influence human development. Recently the government has changed the policy from general rice subsidy to targeted rice subsidy. This program has been considered as in-kind income transfer to the poor. The OPK rice program has been implemented since in the middle of 1998. The program has reached 10.5 million households all over the country, with 40 thousand distribution points surrounding the poor. This article is to evaluate cost of the program, and then compared to general rice subsidy program. It also evaluates the program impact on energy and protein consumption of the poor as well its macro economic impact, espevally the increasing aggregate demand of the poor. The cost of the program is lower as compared to general rice subsidy, and has positive impact on rural development. The program has also reduced the risk of food insecurity, poor nutrition status, especially in rural area in which the program are dominated. It is suggested that the program should be improved by narrowing targeted household.