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)