JAKARTA: The Indonesian Government is planning to import 22,500 tonnes of rice from Cambodia to complement domestic stocks in meeting the needs ahead of Aidilfitri, the National Food Agency (Bapanas) stated.
"We are prioritising domestically-produced rice. However, we decided that Bulog (state-owned logistics firm) will procure rice from abroad this time. We will import 22,500 (tonnes of rice) from Cambodia," Bapanas Head Arief Prasetyo Adi noted in Jakarta on Monday (March 18).
The agency head made the statement after attending a meeting chaired by President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace.
Adi remarked that Bapanas is currently taking preparatory measures to welcome the great harvesting period of rice that is projected between March and April this year.
He expressed optimism about Indonesian farmers achieving the target of rice output, which, in turn, is expected to lead to a decline in the prices of the staple commodity.
He then noted that the government had made several efforts to ensure that the people did not face any shortage of rice, including by distributing rice aid to millions of beneficiaries.
"Last year, the government distributed 10 kilogrammes of rice aid to 22 million beneficiaries for seven months. We have decided to continue the distribution for six months this year," he pointed out.
Through the rice aid programme, he stated that the government has managed to meet the rice needs of eight per cent of Indonesia's population.
"And not to mention the Cheap Food Movement that has been implemented by Tito Karnavian (Home Affairs Minister) and regional governments," he highlighted.
The official further remarked that the government would continue to monitor rice stocks stored by Bulog to ensure sufficiency until June 2024.
"We need to maintain Bulog's 1.2 million tonnes of rice until June," he concluded. - Bernama-Antara
