Some regencies reject cheap Dolog rice

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