Makassar has enough rice stocks

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The local logistics agency announced on Wednesday that the province had enough rice stocks to secure local demands for the next three years.

The agency's spokesman Abd. Latif Dunggio said 186,261 tons of rice was currently in storage, while monthly demand was approximately 4,800 tons.

Latief was responding to media reports that Indonesia would face a 3.3 million ton rice deficit during the upcoming holidays. The country produced only 3.5 million tons this year while last year's data showed that rice consumption reached 6.8 million tons.

He said that, based on the agency's monitoring, there was no indication of an increase in rice price, which has been set at Rp 2,300 per kilogram across the country.

"In practical terms, we have no problems with the market price, as rice here is sold for Rp 2,000 per kilogram this month," he said.

Latief added that rice in the province was supplied by the agency's seven branches, businessmen and inter-island rice suppliers. (27/lup)