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State logistics firm Perum Bulog announced Friday its rice
procurement during the first four months of this year had exceeded
initial targets.
Bulog President Director Mustafa Abubakar said the firm had bought
974,000 tons of rice in the year's first quarter, up from its initial
960,000 tons target.
However, he said the procurement was still lower than the 1.1 million
tons requirement inked in a contract between Bulog and its partners.
"The lower procurement is not due to our trading partners shifting some
of the allocated rice to the markets, but because their purchasing
abilities are still at that level. But we are sure the target can be
realized soon," he said.
Mustafa said the biggest procurement came from East Java with 401,000
tons, followed by Central Java with 199,000 tons and West Java with
174,000 tons.
Bulog is tasked with stockpiling rice, the country's main staple food,
by buying the grain directly from farmers or third parties, and
unloading it during rice shortages.
The firm is also tasked with maintaining the price of rice.
As of Friday, Bulog rice stock reached 1.37 million tons; including
paddy equivalent to 1.45 million tons of rice and 128,600 tons of
husked rice.
Bulog is targeting to procure 2.5 million tons of rice by the end of
this year.
Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, is predicted to see a jump
in rice consumption of 5 percent from 33 million tons last year.
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