Indonesia to import 500,000 tons of rice to stabilize price

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Tuesday that the government will import 500,000 tons of rice in a bid to stabilize price in anticipation of bad weather which can affect the harvest time of the commodity.

"The government decides to import 500,000 tons of rice to meet the supply in the Logistic Agency," he said after meeting with the Head of the State Logistic Agency Widjanarko Puspoyo, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, State Enterprises Minister Sugiharto and Coordinating Minister for Economy Boediono.

Kalla said that the imported rice would help stabilize price, which has increased in some places.

The government aimed to cut rice price from 5,000 rupiah (about 0.5 U.S. dollars) per kilogram to 4,000 rupiah (some 0.4 U.S. dollars) per kilogram.

Earlier, the government has imported 250,000 tons of rice which will arrive in March this year.

Rice, a main food for most of the 240 million population of the country, is a strategic commodity for Indonesia.

Over the last several months, the country has been hit by bad weather, which will poorly affect the rice cultivation and extend the regular time for harvest.

Source: Xinhua