$360m to secure rice supply<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Logistics Agency (Bulog) will spend
\nabout Rp 800 billion (US$360 million) to secure the nation's rice
\nsupply, an agency executive says.<\/p>\n
"Bulog will spend the money to purchase rice domestically. The
\namount should enable the agency to purchase around 1.3 million
\ntons of rice," Beddu Amang, Bulog's chairman, said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Beddu said that Bulog planned to build up a total stock of two
\nmillion tons of rice this year. He declined, however, to comment
\non Bulog's current rice supply.<\/p>\n
"We will go all out to secure a national stockpile of at least
\ntwo million tons," he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia became self-sufficient in rice in 1984, after being
\nthe world's largest rice importer for decades.<\/p>\n
A severe drought last year slashed rice production by four
\npercent from the 1993 level, down to 46.40 million tons of
\nunhusked rice. As a consequence, the nation's rice stockpile has
\nfallen to its lowest level in 15 years.<\/p>\n
The 1994 drought forced Indonesia to import a significant
\nquantity of rice for the first time in years.<\/p>\n
The government has estimated that rice production will
\nincrease by 1.5 percent this year, over last year's level.<\/p>\n
But despite the projected increase, the rice supply will still
\nbe lower than in 1993.<\/p>\n
Beddu Amang said yesterday that the Rp 800 billion fund has
\nbeen provided by the state-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia. He did
\nnot reveal the terms on which the funds are being provided.<\/p>\n
He said this month alone Bulog had signed contracts for the
\nprocurement of 92,000 tons of rice.<\/p>\n
To secure the procurement target, he added, Bulog would ease
\nits quality standards for unhusked rice bought from farmers.<\/p>\n
In January Bulog received about Rp 457 billion from the
\nMinistry of Finance because the agency had already spent Rp 3.45
\ntrillion of its Rp 4.4 trillion budget for the 1994-1995 fiscal
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Bulog also oversees the importation and distribution of sugar,
\nwheat and soya beans. Since its establishment in 1967, the agency
\nhas never yet released its accounts. (hdj)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/360m-to-secure-rice-supply-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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