"They (the stocks) are more than enough," he told ANTARA here on Monday.
During a working meeting with Commission VI of the House of Representatives (DPR) at the Parliamentary Complex here on Monday, he informed that the current availability of rice stocks, which has reached 1.6 million tons, is better than last year's.
"Last year, there were only 500 thousand tons. We were worried. But now, there are 1.6 million tons," he said.
Therefore, it is hoped that the community will not panic or worry about rice supplies because the government has guaranteed the stocks, he added.
According to him, Indonesia's rice reserves will rise to two million tons as currently, the government is awaiting the import of 400 thousand tons of rice.
Earlier, during a limited meeting, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had agreed to augmenting rice stocks to two million tons.
Hasan said the government has begun distributing rice assistance to beneficiary families in various regions from this month. Under the assistance program, every beneficiary will receive 10 kilograms of rice.
The distribution of rice assistance has been brought forward from October to September this year to tame rice prices.
The minister said that his ministry is always ready to support the efforts made by the National Food Agency (Bapanas) to ensure food availability in the community.
He explained that the authority to tackle food issues, including the issue of prices of basic commodities, is no longer under the Ministry of Trade, but under the Bapanas.
Nevertheless, he said he will not avoid the issue because it is part of his duties as a minister.
"The Ministry of Trade's job is actually to be a supporter, even though in the eyes of the public, if prices rise, it is still the Ministry of Trade's responsibility," he said.
The ministry will support the implementation of the plans and strategies decided by the Bapanas or other related bodies, such as in the aspect of commodity distribution and trading, he said.
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Translator: Nabil Ihsan, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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