ID :
52158
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 08:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/52158
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ECONIT: RICE EXPORT PERMIT TENDS TO TRIGGER SMUGGLING PRACTICES
Jakarta, March 24 (ANTARA) - The government's decision on the export of rice was seen as too premature as the step was taken without considering the negative impact on the national rice supply in addition to prompting more rice smuggling practices, an observer said.
Hendri Saparini, the director of Econit Advisory Group, said here on Tuesday the decision export rice was right not only in view of the high world demand for this commodity, but also that the government needs to exercise more caution as rice is one of the sensitive commodities produced and distributed under special arrangements.
Rice is unsafe to climate change not only in Indonesia but also in other parts of the world.
The trade minister plans to issue a permit for the export of 266,000 tons of super quality rice for April-September period. About 100,000 tons of them will be allocated to the National Logistic Agency, while the rest is entrusted to the private sector to handle the export.
According to her, the government was still facing difficulty in controlling the export of rice even for primary variety at the time when there was a must to safeguard food production for the sake of food sovereignty.
"Being able to export the rice is a good achievement, but it should refer to volume of rice production if compared to the people's consumption of rice in a certain period," she said.
She was of the opinion that the government's data were sketchy. The Agriculture Ministry was believed to have reported higher production, while the trade ministry used data which indicated that there was no problem to get engaged in rice export.
"At the time when a number of countries are suffering a decline in rice production including Indonesia which has been attacked by protracted flood, it is difficult to imagine an overproduction of rice to happen," she said.
"Issuing export permit for rice of special variety is okey, but the import of low quality rice is rumoured to be underway," she said, adding that if the export permit was to be also granted to the private sector, it was not impossible that illegal practices like rice smuggling would be rampant just in hope of siphoning a profit margin between the prices of import and export.
According to Saparini, the policy on rice export was only based on a self-reliance, the claim of which was actually against nationalistic spirit to improve the prosperity of the people as it has entered into a political domain.
Hendri Saparini, the director of Econit Advisory Group, said here on Tuesday the decision export rice was right not only in view of the high world demand for this commodity, but also that the government needs to exercise more caution as rice is one of the sensitive commodities produced and distributed under special arrangements.
Rice is unsafe to climate change not only in Indonesia but also in other parts of the world.
The trade minister plans to issue a permit for the export of 266,000 tons of super quality rice for April-September period. About 100,000 tons of them will be allocated to the National Logistic Agency, while the rest is entrusted to the private sector to handle the export.
According to her, the government was still facing difficulty in controlling the export of rice even for primary variety at the time when there was a must to safeguard food production for the sake of food sovereignty.
"Being able to export the rice is a good achievement, but it should refer to volume of rice production if compared to the people's consumption of rice in a certain period," she said.
She was of the opinion that the government's data were sketchy. The Agriculture Ministry was believed to have reported higher production, while the trade ministry used data which indicated that there was no problem to get engaged in rice export.
"At the time when a number of countries are suffering a decline in rice production including Indonesia which has been attacked by protracted flood, it is difficult to imagine an overproduction of rice to happen," she said.
"Issuing export permit for rice of special variety is okey, but the import of low quality rice is rumoured to be underway," she said, adding that if the export permit was to be also granted to the private sector, it was not impossible that illegal practices like rice smuggling would be rampant just in hope of siphoning a profit margin between the prices of import and export.
According to Saparini, the policy on rice export was only based on a self-reliance, the claim of which was actually against nationalistic spirit to improve the prosperity of the people as it has entered into a political domain.
