Palu, Central Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Central Sulawesi has again received 4,800 tons of imported rice stock from Vietnam for the poor in the province.

The local regional division of the state logistics agency (Bulog) spokesman Muh Makkeng Ali said here on Wednesday that the imported Vietnamese rice arrived at Pantoloan port last Saturday.

But he said that of the 4,800 tons of rice from Vietnam for Central Sulawesi, 2,000 tons had just been sent to Bulog`s warehouses in Palu Timur sub-district while the rest was still in the way.

Unfortunately, Makkeng Ali said the unloading of the rice ran too slow because of bad weather conditions.

According to him, rain fall in the province was high in the last few days and hampered the unloading process.

"If the weather condition is good, the amount of rice can be unloaded in a week," he said, adding that the imported rice supply to Central Sulawesi was the third time.

The first time was in October last year when the province got 4,700 tons of imported Vietnamese rice supplies.

It was followed by the second phase in February 2011 with 3,850 tons and the third March 12, 2011 with 4,800 tons.

Thus the total rice imports which have entered Central Sulawesi so far has reached a total of 13,350 tons.(*)

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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011