ID :
51604
Fri, 03/20/2009 - 21:39
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https://www.oananews.org//node/51604
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MINISTER UPBEAT 2009 RICE PRODUCTION TO EXCEED 60.9 MILLION TONS
Makassar, March 20 (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Anton Apriantono is optimistic this year's rice harvesting season will yield around 63.5 million tons of unhusked dried rice or more than the 60.9 million tons predicted by the statistics agency (BPS).
"I am even convinced rice production will reach 63.5 million tons or higher than the BPS prediction which has yet to take into account the widening of the rice farming area that has happened in reality," the minister said during a working visit to South Sulawesi on Thursday.
He said his optimism was based on the fact that the total area of rice cultivation land this year had increased by 100.7 percent compared to last year.
"Judging by the huge area for rice cultivation, we are optimistic that rice production this year will exceed the BPS projection, not to mention the harvest gains likely to be achieved through the implementation of production extensification programs," he said.
Therefore, the minister said, he would recommend that it was possible to carry out rice exports this year.
"The 100,000 tons of planned rice exports to Japan to be handled by the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) are to consist only of high-quality rice. We have no plan to export medium-quality rice. It is much better use medium-quality rice to build up the national rice stock as we don't know how weather conditions will be later this year," he said.
Later, he said, export of rice could be increased gradually on condition that Bulog had a rice stock of three million tons at all times.
"I am even convinced rice production will reach 63.5 million tons or higher than the BPS prediction which has yet to take into account the widening of the rice farming area that has happened in reality," the minister said during a working visit to South Sulawesi on Thursday.
He said his optimism was based on the fact that the total area of rice cultivation land this year had increased by 100.7 percent compared to last year.
"Judging by the huge area for rice cultivation, we are optimistic that rice production this year will exceed the BPS projection, not to mention the harvest gains likely to be achieved through the implementation of production extensification programs," he said.
Therefore, the minister said, he would recommend that it was possible to carry out rice exports this year.
"The 100,000 tons of planned rice exports to Japan to be handled by the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) are to consist only of high-quality rice. We have no plan to export medium-quality rice. It is much better use medium-quality rice to build up the national rice stock as we don't know how weather conditions will be later this year," he said.
Later, he said, export of rice could be increased gradually on condition that Bulog had a rice stock of three million tons at all times.
