WFP provides rice donation

PALU, Central Sulawesi: The World Food Program (WFP) has donated 14,770 tons of rice to needy people in the province.

Sukarno Tarakuku, an official of the provincial ministry of agriculture, told Antara yesterday the rice would be distributed to villagers early next month.

He said Governor H.B. Paliudju would launch the initial distribution of the rice aid in a village in Donggala district.

Tarakuku acknowledged the province's rice production was insufficient to meet local demand, a problem compounded by the weakened purchasing power of people in the crisis.