National

Indonesia Refuses Request to Import Thai Rice
Saturday, 16 July, 2005 | 14:26 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono has said that the government could not grant the request of the Thai government to import rice from Thailand.

“Because the government made this decision since quite some time ago,” Apriyantono told Tempo on Thursday (14/07).

According to Apriyantono, the policy to ban imports of rice from Thailand has certainly helped the farmers in terms of generating better income.

“In addition, we’ve been able to meet the domestic demand for rice, so, why should we import the rice?” he explained.

According to the Dow Jones news wire, the Thai government had hoped that the Indonesian government would allow rice to be imported from Thailand so that the Thai rice export target could be fulfilled.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) chairman Agusdin Pulungan said he considered the ban on rice imports realistic and rational.

“Based on data from the field, rice production centers, particularly those in Java, will produce good harvests,” said Pulungan.

The HKTI Chairman said he considered this government policy part of the realization of the farming revitalization program, as launched by Indonesian President Yudhoyono on Saturday (11/06).

Pulungan pointed out that although the ban on rice imports had been in force since January of this year, the government must still be alert to the possibility of overseas rice being smuggled into Indonesia.

It is estimated that by the end of 2005 rice production will total 53 million tons of unhusked rice.

According to data from the State Logistics Board (Bulog) , national rice stocks will amount to 1.2 million by the end of the year. (Rini Kustiani-Tempo News Room)