Rice Reserves Pretty Safe, Says Minister
28 May 2015 11:12 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Manado – Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said the nation’s rice reserves were safe for the next few months, thus there was no need for the people to be concerned.
“The country’s present rice reserves were quite safe and would be able to meet the people’s demand,” he said when accompanying President Joko Widodo during the latter’s visit to Manado, North Sulawesi on Thursday.
Andi said both rice and unhulled paddy reserves in the country were adequate, thanks to local farmers’ abundant production.
“Until September 2015, our rice stocks are secure,” he said.
Andi added the rice reserves were sufficient to meet the impending surge of rice demand nationwide during the upcoming Ramadan and Idul Fitri.
Andi, however, admitted that the government was mulling over importing rice, yet he explained it would be a last resort—i.e. if the domestic rice production is insufficient.
“But so far rice production in Indonesia was quite plentiful and the government is ready to buy rice through Bulog (state-run logistics agency),” he said.
ANTARA