Indonesian Government recommended to maintain rice imports
The Indonesian Government needs to consider continuing rice imports until the year-end as the effects of El Nino will cause longer famine compared to last year, said Khudori, an agricultural expert from the Indonesia Association for Political Economy (AEPI).
Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian Governmentneeds to consider continuing rice imports until the year-end as the effects of El Nino will causelonger famine compared to last year, said Khudori, an agricultural expert from the IndonesiaAssociation for Political Economy (AEPI).
As reported by the local weekly magazine Tempo, El Ninowould cause a two-month delay in the rainy season and in turn, the harvestseason. Thus, the famine is expected to last until April next year, causing rice prices to rise if the rice reserve becomes limited. Thus, Khudori stressedthat an additional rice import is necessary.
According to the expert's calculation, the National LogisticsAgency (Bulog) has 1.5 million tonnes of government rice reserves to stabilisethe market price. Adding 400,000 tonnes of import, the end-of-year rice stockcould amount to 1.9 million tonnes. However, the reserve will partly be drainedby the distribution of social assistance of up to 640,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, the market operation to stabilisethe rice price will take 50,000 tonnes of rice in the September-November periodand 100,000 tonnes in December.
Therefore, the reserve will be about 1 million tonnes ofrice, falling behind the initial target of 1.2 million tonnes of rice, Khudoriadded./.
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Illustrative image (Photo: Antara) 
