The distribution of rice stocks is our effort to maintain the price stability and availability of rice in the East Nusa Tenggara region
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Transportation Ministry's Directorate General of Sea Transport and the National Food Agency, through the State Logistics Board (Bulog), distributed one thousand tons of rice from Surabaya, East Java, to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) by sea.

"The distribution of rice stocks is our effort to maintain the price stability and availability of rice in the East Nusa Tenggara region," the ministry's Director General of Sea Transport, Arif Toha, noted, as per the written statement here on Thursday.

Rice stocks have been distributed by KM Kendhaga Nusantara 7, operated by state shipping company Pelni under the Sea Toll Program, he noted.

Toha said that his side and all stakeholders are committed to fulfilling national food demands and ensuring food price stability, particularly in NTT, through the Sea Toll Program.

"We believe that close cooperation between government agencies and relevant stakeholders will positively impact the residents, especially to support food resilience and economic development," the director general noted.

Meanwhile, Directorate General's Director of Marine Traffic and Transport, Captain Hendri Ginting, stated that KM Kendhaga Nusantara had departed from Surabaya's Tanjung Perak Port on Saturday (May 13).

The thousand tons of rice will be distributed to various locations across NTT Province, the director stated.

He explained that some 120 tons, or equivalent to six twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), will be distributed to Labuan Bajo; 200 tons, or 10 TEUs, allocated for Ende; 280 tons, or 14 TEUs, for Larantuka; and 400 tons, or 20 TEUs, for Waingapu.

"We hope the rice supply (distributed) through the sea toll can arrive safely and on time at various destinations in East Nusa Tenggara Province," Ginting remarked.

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Translator: Ahmad Wijaya, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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