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)