Fri, 29 Aug 2003

Decrease in market's rice supply

JAKARTA: Rice supply at the city's main market, Cipinang, in East Jakarta has reportedly decreased -- from 30,000 tons a month to 25,000 tons a month -- due to the prolonged dry season, an official said on Thursday.

"Main rice suppliers in Kerawang and Cirebon, West Java could only supply 25,000 tons a month due to the dry season," the market's manager, Nasion Baktiono, said.

However, Nasion claimed the decrease in rice supply had been covered, with extra rice imported from Thailand, Vietnam and China amounting to 5,630 tons this month.

Due to the decrease in the rice supply the price of various kinds of rice had increased between Rp 50 and Rp 100 per kilogram, he added. -Antara