Government Says There is a Lack of Rice Supply
Tuesday, 09 January, 2007 | 18:09 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The government said that the lack of rice supply has resulted in the rise rice and other basic commodities' price. “Earlier, market operations resulted in the decrease of the rice price. Now, it does not. It could be that the rice supply was not sufficient enough for a market operation,” said Director of Market Management and Distribution at the Department of Trade Gunaryo yesterday (01/08).

According to him, recent market operations were ineffective because they were unable to hold the rice price. “The market operation was proved ineffective. It was not absorbed by people because it did not have good quality,” he said.

Gunaryo said that the quality of Bulog's rice must be questioned. “How could people buy if the market operation used rice stock that has been kept for six months,” he said. A market operation should use new or imported rice.
In addition, he said, the rise of the rice price was caused by bad weather that hindered the distribution of goods. “Despite using ships, it must be distributed by aircraft by virtue of the bad weather,” he said.

RR ARIYANI