Some regencies reject cheap Dolog rice

A number of regencies in North Sumatra province have rejected cheap rice from the Provincial Logistics Agency (Dolog) this year as it does not comply with the gubernatorial decree of the province.

Sofyan Nasution, the assistance to North Sumatra governor, did not state why the regencies refused to accept the subsidized rice, which was scheduled to be distributed to 20 regencies and mayoralties in the province in January.

Dolog public relations chief, Jalaludin, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday they included regencies of Karo, Labuhan Batu, Asahan and mayoralties of Sibolga and Binjai.

Jalaludin admitted that there had been irregularities in the cheap rice program. "Many of them have been manipulated or their prices have been raised with the profits going to the officials in charge," he said, adding that the rice was still stockpiled in the Dolog warehouse.

Until now only Pematang Siantar mayoralty and Simalungun regency had accepted the cheap rice from Dolog, respectively 278,640 kg and 2.8 tons.

According to Jalaludin, this year Dolog plans to distribute 40,310 tons of rice, while last year's distribution was only 32,518 tons.

He said that the cheap rice would be distributed to some 167,958 poor families in 20 regencies and mayoralties in the province.

Its distribution and supervision of the program will be done by Dolog, while the administration of regencies and mayoralties are only selected families.

The market price for rice is Rp 2,804 per kilogram, but it is sold to poor families for only Rp 1,000 per kilogram under a government subsidy. --JP