Indonesia may lend rice to Senegal

Indonesia may lend rice to Senegal

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah
said yesterday that Indonesia is considering lending rice to
Senegal to help remedy its food shortage.

Sjarifudin said that Senegal's visiting Minister of Fishery
and Sea Transport, Abdourrahmane Sow, had asked him whether it is
possible for Senegal to borrow Indonesia's rice in the near
future to meet the food shortage in his country.

Sjarifudin, however, did not elaborate on the volume of rice
requested by Sow.

Indonesia has in the past lent its rice stock to other
developing countries to help those in need and to enhance the
South-to-South cooperation.

Sjarifudin said yesterday that he will discuss the proposal
with the Minister of Food and Chairman of the National Logistics
Agency (Bulog) Ibrahim Hasan.

Hasan said earlier said that it is better to lend Indonesia's
surplus rice stock to other countries in need instead of keeping
it in warehouses which is not only expensive but also could
degrade the quality of the rice.

Indonesia imposes a six-percent interest annually for its rice
loans.

During yesterday's meeting, Sow, who was accompanied by a
number of Senegalese officials and business people, told his host
that Senegal wants to learn from Indonesia about rice self-
sufficiency.

Director General of Edible Plants and Horticulture Amrin Kahar
briefed the visiting delegation on Indonesia's efforts to develop
rice production. (09)