"The salt import is aimed to meet a three-and-a-half month need for consumption, as has been approved," the trade ministry`s foreign trade affairs director general, Deddy Saleh, said here on Friday.
The consumer salt import was decided upon after being approved by the Marines and Fisheries ministry, the Industry ministry, Trade ministry and the Economic Coordinating ministry, he said.
Subsequently, the government will decide which companies are qualified to import salt, as well as to purchase local farmers` salt.
"Currently, the companies should continue buying domestic salt products until the end of February. We urge farmers and traders who have salt supplies to market them, instead of just storing them," Deddy Saleh said, explaining that the government will only allow the import of salt prior to this year`s harvest.
In addition, the government will make sure that there will be no salt imports one month before the local salt harvest.
The domestic salt harvest will start in July, while the peak harvest is expected to occur in August 2012, the official noted.
According to Deddy Saleh, the government decided to allow consumer salt imports because domestic supplies had fallen to 306,000 tons, as recorded in December 2011, which was considered to be not enough to meet domestic needs.
The required monthly salt stock is about 120,000 tons, on average, the trade ministry official said.
(T.M035/B003/INE/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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