Indonesia is to import 210,000 tons of rice from October to November to increase the government's stock and stabilize prices, head of logistic agency Puspoyo Widjanarko said in Jakarta Tuesday.

The country has suffered from a series of catastrophes recently forcing the government to supply more rice, the staple food, from the country's stock.

"The Ministry of Trade decided to import 210,000 tons of rice between Oct. 1 and Nov. 15," he told reporters before a hearing with the lawmakers here.

The government would soon hold an open tender to determine the suppliers of the commodity.

But he did not give further detail about the source of the import.

"The imported rice is aimed at increasing government's stock of rice for supplying the need in emergency situation and stability of price," he said.

The powerful earthquake in the province of Yogyakarta and tsunami hitting the province of West Java and Central Java, that killed thousands of people, have paralyzed the economy in the province which made the government to supply more rice for millions of survivors.

Source: Xinhua