"In principle we provide the flexibility to Bulog, because it has to maintain rice stock at 1.5 million tons by making the procurement from within and outside the country," Mari said.
According to the trade minister, the rice import was also intended to control fluctuating prices.
Asked how much stock was needed in the rice import, Mari said it would depend on Bulog`s need in the rice procurement.
"It depends on the calculation of how much Bulog will need for procurement at home, for market operation, and for Raskin (rice for the poor households), and if it remains insufficient then we will import it," she said.
Meanwhile, Bulog President Director Sutarto Alimoeso said earlier that the government has permitted the agency to import 1.5 million tons of rice.
"Since the beginning the government has permitted Bulog to import 1.5 million tons of rice to maintain food resilience because we don`t want to have short of rice. The more so in the next four months we have to distribute more than 1 million tons for Raskin," he said.
According to Sutarto, the realization of rice import by Bulog would be conducted no later than March this year.
(ANT/A024)
Editor: AA Ariwibowo
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
