RRI.CO.ID, Banda Aceh - President Prabowo Subianto has allocated IDR 72.7 billion (approximately US$4.6 million) to purchase cattle to preserve the Meugang tradition in Aceh ahead of the holy month of Ramadan 1447 Hijri, targeting communities affected by recent flooding.

The assistance will cover 1,455 villages identified as flood-affected areas, with each village receiving IDR 50 million to purchase either one large cow or two smaller ones.

“We will distribute it immediately so that residents can enjoy it. Hopefully, this will restore the community’s spirit,” Aceh Tamiang Deputy Regent Ismail said on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Meugang is a longstanding Acehnese tradition of cooking and sharing beef or buffalo meat ahead of major religious occasions, including Ramadan.

Distribution of the cattle assistance from the central government is still ongoing. Ismail said the locally sourced cattle were provided to help residents welcome Ramadan as they continue to recover from the disaster.

Technically, the cattle are handed over to village authorities, who are responsible for slaughtering the animals and distributing the meat to residents.

Yunus, acting head of the Aceh Tamiang Agriculture, Livestock and Plantation Agency, said all cattle must undergo strict procedures before being delivered to villages. The process includes comprehensive health inspections and weight checks to ensure compliance with the allocated quotas.

He said 209 villages have been designated as beneficiaries based on technical guidelines issued by the central government, with the total number of targeted recipients reaching 94,738 households. “We prioritize fairness. Villages that suffered more severe disaster impacts will receive a larger share of meat compared to other areas,” Yunus said.

The cattle assistance for the Meugang tradition was disbursed through the Presidential Secretariat, using the President’s personal funds, and transferred directly to 19 regencies and municipal administrations. ***