ID :
39425
Wed, 01/07/2009 - 21:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/39425
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RI TO EXPORT RICE IF 2009 PRODUCTION TARGET ACHIEVED
Semarang, Indonesia, Jan 7 (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono said Indonesia would export one million tons of rice if its national rice production target for 2009 was achieved.
"The national rice production target for 2009 is 47 million tons or 63 million tons of dry unhulled paddy," he said here Wednesday.
Some of the countries to which the rice could be exported were East Timor, Malaysia and the Philippines, he said.
"These countries have expressed their interest in importing rice from Indonesia," the minister said.
But Apriyantono also said Indonesia could export high-quality rice in February 2009 without waiting for the attainment of the national production target.
He said exporting rice would help the maintenance of stability in the domestic rice price.
"If national production exceeds domestic demand and the surplus is not marketed abroad, it will cause the domestic rice price to fall and then our farmers will suffer," he said.
The minister said ensuring the availability of food on a national scale was not just a matter of increasing rice production but also managing its distribution down to the lowest levels of the community.
"The national rice production target for 2009 is 47 million tons or 63 million tons of dry unhulled paddy," he said here Wednesday.
Some of the countries to which the rice could be exported were East Timor, Malaysia and the Philippines, he said.
"These countries have expressed their interest in importing rice from Indonesia," the minister said.
But Apriyantono also said Indonesia could export high-quality rice in February 2009 without waiting for the attainment of the national production target.
He said exporting rice would help the maintenance of stability in the domestic rice price.
"If national production exceeds domestic demand and the surplus is not marketed abroad, it will cause the domestic rice price to fall and then our farmers will suffer," he said.
The minister said ensuring the availability of food on a national scale was not just a matter of increasing rice production but also managing its distribution down to the lowest levels of the community.
