JAKARTA: Indonesia seeks to import another 900,000 metric tonnes of rice until the end of this year amid expectations of lower output and delayed planting season, the country’s food procurement company Bulog said on Friday (Aug 30).
As of Aug 30, Bulog has contracted 2.7 million tonnes of rice import of the allocated quota of 3.6 million tonnes for this year, Bulog’s chief executive Bayu Krisnamurthi said.
"We want to import another 900,000 tonnes. We are trying to have all contracted and delivered this year," Bayu told reporters.
South-East Asia's biggest economy Indonesia imported rice from Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Myanmar and Cambodia this year.
Rice output in January-October period estimated at 26.9 million tonnes, a 5% drop compared to the same period in 2023, according to data from Indonesia's statistics bureau.
The El Nino weather phenomenon last year had cut rain volume, causing delays in new crop cycle and a drop in rice production, staple food for most of Indonesia's 275 million population.
Indonesia’s geophysics agency expected the dry season to occur until October, which could delay the rice planting season by a month, Bayu said.
"Our production is under pressure, we need to take extra measures for production,” he said. - Reuters
