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Rice stocks adequate: Minister
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Thursday that Indonesia had adequate rice supplies for the next several months, stressing that there was no need for people to worry about a rice shortage
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griculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Thursday that Indonesia had adequate rice supplies for the next several months, stressing that there was no need for people to worry about a rice shortage.
'Currently, there is a secure rice stock in the country and it can fulfil rice demands of people in Indonesia,' he said as quoted by Antara.
The minister was speaking while accompanying President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo on a working visit to Manado, North Sumatra, on Thursday.
Andi said both rice and dried unhulled paddy stocks were sufficient as many rice farmers would be harvesting their crops soon. 'Up to September, our rice stocks are sufficient,' he said.
The minister said demand for rice could soar ahead of Ramadhan and Idul Fitri. He said the government could import rice but only as a last resort if domestic rice stocks were insufficient.
'So far, rice production is sufficient and the government, via the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) is ready to buy rice from farmers,' said Andi, pointing out that rice prices in 75 regencies were below farmers' selling price (HPP).
According to Agriculture Ministry data, the harvest season had arrived in most areas and was expected to reach its peak in June.
North Sulawesi Bulog head Yayan Suparyan said the agency was ready to buy rice from local farmers at a predetermined price, namely Rp 7,260 (55 US cents) per kilogram.
'There will be no limit on the amount of rice we buy. We will buy their rice in any volume,' he said. (ebf)
