Vice President Ma’ruf Amin stated here on Monday that the government’s decision to import rice aimed to anticipate a shortage in national rice stocks.

“It is true that the government has taken anticipatory efforts when it comes to rice. If (the stock) runs low, (then we will) import (rice). However, if (the stock) is sufficient, (we) will not import (rice),” he noted .

The government has, so far, made every effort to boost the implementation of the food crops intensification program, he remarked.

Amin said during his visit to South Sulawesi, he received a report that the local government had conducted an intensification program to boost rice production, ranging from preparing seeds to cultivating farm land.

Through the program, the South Sulawesi provincial government managed to increase rice production by up to 250 thousand tons this year.

“Admittedly, it (the program) is not successful in some regions. However, according to the report, it (the rice production target) will likely be met, although rice fields in several regions were flooded,” he remarked.

Hence, the government continued to assess the national rice stocks to ensure they are sufficient to meet the country’s needs, he stated.

The government has tasked the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) with importing rice to secure the national stocks that currently stood at 594 thousand tons.

“A decision has been reached at a limited coordination meeting. At the meeting, all relevant ministers agreed to the decision. Bulog only realizes the order or assignment,” Bulog president director Budi Waseso noted during a recent meeting at the parliament building in Jakarta.

At the meeting, Bulog was assigned to secure rice stocks under the Supply Availability and Price Stabilization (KPSH) Program or market operation, with the aim of intervening in rice prices and fulfilling needs in the event of an extraordinary occurrence.

The latest decision mandates Bulog to buy 500 thousand tons of rice from local farmers and import 500 thousand tons of rice in order to secure national stocks.

Since 500 thousand tons of domestic rice is not available, Bulog has ordered 500 thousand tons of imported rice that can be shipped to Indonesia anytime, he remarked.

Source: Antara News