Govt assures food supply

Govt assures food supply

JAKARTA (JP): The government has reiterated its guarantee that
the country will have adequate food supply prior to and during
the Idul Fitri holidays in early March.

"We will have enough rice for both the Ramadhan fasting month
in February and Idul Fitri," Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin
Baharsjah said after a meeting with President Soeharto at the
Merdeka Palace.

Sjarifudin was accompanied in yesterday's meeting by
Coordinating Minister for Economy and Finance Saleh Afiff, State
Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan, Minister of Finance Mar'ie
Muhammad and Minister of Trade Satrio B. Joedono.

Sjarifudin did not disclose any figures on the rice supply.

Antara reported yesterday that Indonesia expects about 900,000
tons of imported rice by early March, which will mark a
continuation of a series of imports started last year.

About 335,000 tons of rice are expected to reach the Tanjung
Priok Port this month.

Sjarifudin also stated that the government will step up pest-
control to ensure good harvests. (hdj)