"We are determined not to import rice if our production can increase. We have adequate stocks early this year," Sutarto Alimoeso saidJakarta (ANTARA News) - The state logistics agency (Bulog) is determined not to import rice this year if the unhulled rice production target of 72 million tons can be achieved, its president director said.
"We are determined not to import rice if our production can increase. We have adequate stocks early this year," Sutarto Alimoeso said on the sidelines of a function marking the company`s 10th anniversary here on Thursday.
Bulog`s purchase of domestic rice more than doubled to 3.678 million tons last year from 1.742 million tons a year earlier, he said.
The 2012 rice purchase was the highest since Bulog transformed into a state logistics agency, he said.
"This is the first to happen in Bulog`s history," he said at the function also attended by State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan.
Besides good harvest, he attributed the achievement to four strategies, namely push-and-pull, ant networks, incentives, and on-farm.
"In essence, our field officers must be active in buying rice from farmers. In implementing procurement programs, we also involve farmer society networks," he said.
The success to buy great quantities of farmer`s rice has enabled Bulog to reduce rice imports to 670 thousand tons from 1 million tons allowed for this year, he said.
As of December 31, 2012, Bulog successfully maintained rice stocks at an all time high of 2.27 million, he said.
Bulog has set itself the target of supplying 3.55 million tons of rice this year, which is enough to maintain rice stocks at 2.2 million tons by the end of this year.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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