National

President Declares Rice Imports for Stock
Saturday, 10 December, 2005 | 14:52 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesian President Yudhoyono said that the government had imported rice to prevent a lack of food supplies. “Do not misunderstand the rice import license issued by the government recently,” Yudhoyono said at the State Palace on Friday (09/12).

According to Yudhoyono, rice imports will not enter the market in a normal situation. The imports, he said, was only to maintain the country’s supplies. “If there are no supplies and something happens such as the harvest failing, we would not be able to save the people,” Yudhoyono stated.

The rice imports, he said, was only a forced condition because of the scarcity of rice.

The President said that the government would continue protecting the farmers. However, on the other hand, the government should also think about society’s purchasing power. “The import of rice is aimed at fulfilling the supplies and meeting the rice needs of poor people,” said the President.

The policy of imported rice has been considered and thought about carefully. “I have asked the Minister of Agriculture, the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and other related ministers to consider the policy of imported rice carefully,” stated the President. (Sunariah-Tempo News Room)