The government of Indonesia has increased by the price of subsidized rice sold to the poor by almost 60%, but has also expanded eligibility and allocations in the wake of soaring inflation in the country.

The confirmation of the subsidy plan proposed in February comes a day after the government announced it was banning all private rice exports to boost buffer stocks to control domestic prices.

Some 19.1 million families are now eligible to buy 15 Kg of subsidized rice a month, up from 15.8 million families allowed to buy 10 kg a month last year.