Bulog moves to foil rice price increase<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Logistic Agency (Bulog) yesterday
\nlaunched a major market operation in rice to foil speculations
\nthat the price of the nation's staple diet will increase ahead of
\nthe Islamic Idul Fitri festivities.<\/p>\n
Newly appointed Bulog chief Beddu Amang personally supervised
\nthe operation at the Cipinang and Pasar Minggu markets, informing
\ntraders of his intention and expectations from them.<\/p>\n
The operation involves supplying rice to the market at prices
\nbelow the going rate in the hope of bringing the prices down.<\/p>\n
"We intend to run this operation as efficiently and
\neffectively as possible," Beddu was quoted by the Antara news
\nagency as saying.<\/p>\n
Bulog yesterday released tons of its stock of imported rice in
\nJakarta, cutting prices by an average of Rp 25 down to Rp 750 per
\nkilogram. "We hope distributors will fill the major markets with
\nBulog's discounted rice," he told the traders.<\/p>\n
Under yesterday's operation, the price of Thai rice (with up
\nto five percent of the grain damaged) was set at Rp 750\/kg. Thai
\nrice (25 percent damaged) at Rp 675\/kg, Vietnamese rice (10
\npercent damaged) at Rp 660\/kg, Vietnamese rice (25 percent
\ndamaged) at Rp 640\/kg, Vietnamese (5 percent damaged) at Rp
\n750\/kg and Myanmar (25 percent damaged) at Rp 600\/kg.<\/p>\n
To ensure maximum impact, Beddu plans to hold weekly
\nconsultations with major rice traders to review the operation.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, an early market operation to reduce the price of
\ncooking oil has not had the desired effect, Beddu conceded.<\/p>\n
The operation saw Bulog supplying 100,000 tons of cooking oil
\nin 27 markets in five cities.<\/p>\n
In Pasar Minggu, the price of a kilogram of unpackaged cooking
\noil of the Bimoli special grade was Rp 2,100, Rp 100 higher than
\na few days ago and well up on the Rp 1,380 charged by factories.<\/p>\n
"It shouldn't really be more than Rp 1,500 a kilo," Beddu
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Blaming distributors for hoarding their stock, he said the
\nnext market operation will simply circumvent the distributors.
\n"We'll sell direct to retailers."<\/p>\n
Beddu also announced Bulog's plan to import 250,000 tons of
\ngranular sugar from China, South Korea and Thailand to meet
\ndomestic demand and strengthen the agency's stock.<\/p>\n
Bulog so far has already received a shipment of 5,700 tons
\nfrom Thailand.<\/p>\n
Beddu said Bulog also plans to launch a market operation on
\nfrozen meat ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bulog-moves-to-foil-rice-price-increase-1447893297",
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