Indonesia imports rice from Taiwan<\/p>\n
Taipei (DPA): Indonesia has sent a freighter to Taiwan to pick
\nup the 50,000 tons of rice it has bought from Taiwan to ease its
\nrice shortage, it was disclosed Thursday.<\/p>\n
The Cambodian-registered Un Bong arrived in the Taichung
\nHarbour on Sunday. Loading begins Saturday, the Central Trust of
\nChina (CTC) which handles exports, said.<\/p>\n
\"The first shipment is 8,000 tons,\" a CTC official said asking
\nnot to be named.<\/p>\n
The loading will take between one or two weeks, he added.<\/p>\n
Taiwan is willing to discuss selling more rice to Indonesia
\nafter the 50,000 tons have been shipped, Council of Agricultural
\nofficial Ku Teh-ye said earlier.<\/p>\n
Press reports said Indonesia is buying rice from Taiwan,
\nThailand and India.<\/p>\n
\"We need two million tons of rice as safety stock. But we
\ndon't have that much this year due to drought and other reasons,\"
\nsaid Ortoro, chairman of Indonesian Economic & Trade Office in
\nTaipei.<\/p>\n
\"Raining season should have started in August. But it is
\nbeginning now,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"If the rain is plentiful, we can have a good harvest in
\nJanuary,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The other two reasons for the rice shortage are the decrease
\nof rice paddies and the changed eating habits.<\/p>\n
\"Lots of rice fields around Jakarta have been developed for
\ninfrastructure or industrial sites. And due to improved living
\nstandard, those who used to eat corn or cassava are eating rice,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"For example, people in East Indonesia used to eat sago, the
\nstarchy white grains inside some palm-trees. Now they are eating
\nrice,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-imports-rice-from-taiwan-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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