TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Banten provincial administration has rejected rice import since farmers in Banten are harvesting.
Banten Agriculture Agency head Agus M Tauchid in Serang on Friday, January 12, stated that Banten refuses to accept imported rice since farmers are harvesting every day in a number of rice centers.
"The estimation of production from January to March 2018 is 512,388 tons which exceeds the consumption needs of Banten residents from January to March with 324,000 tons of rice," Agus Taunchid said.
Read: Imported Rice Will be in Market between January, February: Govt
As a result, a surplus of production of 188.388 tons is estimated in the harvest period January-Maret 2018. In addition, he went on, rice supplies available in Banten Logistics Agency (Bulog) are 6,295 tons which are considered sufficient to meet the needs for the next 2.6months.
"So rice import is not necessary and we have to save farmers’ yields," Agus stated.
In addition, he said, harvest period in Banten will begin on the first week of February 2018. "Let’s save Banten farmers by not importing rice," Agus continued.
ANTARA