BulogChairman Djarot Kusumayakti said the agency will increase local riceprocurement which is slated at 3.7 million tonnes to distribute to low-income earners.
TheIndonesian Agriculture Ministry, meanwhile, is upbeat about this year’sproduction reaching 80 million tonnes of rice, more than the annual nationaldemand of 60 million tonnes.
Experts,however, cautioned the government about providing accurate data on supply anddemand, which has been a sensitive issue in the country for years.
Last year,Indonesia imported 1.2 million tonnes of rice.
Accordingto the ministry, rice prices have fallen to 3,100-,3,500 rupiah per kilogram inseveral areas in central and east Java such as Blora, Bojonegoro, Ngawi andPati.-VNA