Optimizing the Allocation of Distribution Points in the Rice for Poor Families Program (RASKIN): A Comparative Study of the P-Median and Maximal Covering Methods
Aunur Rofiq Mulyarto (a*), Dhilla Arsyika (a), Wendra Gandhatyasri Rohmah (a)

a) Department of Agroindustrial Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya
Jl. Veteran, Malang 65145, Indonesia
*aunurrm[at]ub.ac.id

Abstract

The Rice for Poor Families Program (Raskin) is a rice subsidy program from the government aimed at poor families so they can buy rice at affordable prices. One of the problems encountered in distributing Raskin is the relatively high cost of distribution, due to the large number of distribution points and the wide coverage area that must be covered. The aim of this research is to determine the optimal distribution points allocation for each warehouse by comparing the current-actual allocation and the two location optimization models. The p-Median and Maximal Covering methods were chosen to represent two approaches in location optimization and analysis, i.e. covering and median models. The case study used is the distribution of Raskin carried out by the Perum BULOG Regional of Bojonegoro. The distribution area covers Bojonegoro, Tuban and Lamongan Regencies, which consist of 75 sub-districts, 3 warehouse units and a total of 1232 distribution points. The results show that, based on the criteria of total distance and average distance of distribution points, the p-Median method provides a more optimal allocation of distribution points when compared to other methods. The total distribution distance using the p-Median method is 23,350.19 km while the average distribution point distance is 19.00 km, or a decrease of 11.62% from the current actual allocations.

Keywords: location analysis, p-median, maximal covering, facility location problem, optimization

Topic: Agro-industrial production system management and regulation