The Jakarta Post, Sat, 05/03/2008 11:14 AM
State logistics firm Perum Bulog announced Friday its rice procurement during the first four months of this year had exceeded initial targets.
Bulog President Director Mustafa Abubakar said the firm had bought 974,000 tons of rice in the year's first quarter, up from its initial 960,000 tons target.
However, he said the procurement was still lower than the 1.1 million tons requirement inked in a contract between Bulog and its partners.
"The lower procurement is not due to our trading partners shifting some of the allocated rice to the markets, but because their purchasing abilities are still at that level. But we are sure the target can be realized soon," he said.
Mustafa said the biggest procurement came from East Java with 401,000 tons, followed by Central Java with 199,000 tons and West Java with 174,000 tons.
Bulog is tasked with stockpiling rice, the country's main staple food, by buying the grain directly from farmers or third parties, and unloading it during rice shortages.
The firm is also tasked with maintaining the price of rice.
As of Friday, Bulog rice stock reached 1.37 million tons; including paddy equivalent to 1.45 million tons of rice and 128,600 tons of husked rice.
Bulog is targeting to procure 2.5 million tons of rice by the end of this year.
Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, is predicted to see a jump in rice consumption of 5 percent from 33 million tons last year. -- JP/Novia D. Rulistia
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