PRESIDENT ASKS BULOG TO IMPROVE FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Jakarta, May (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to have a punctual and efficient food distribution system.

"Devise and adopt a punctual and efficient system to distribute food," the President said at the opening of "Bulogvaganza", a series of activities organized to mark Bulog's 42nd anniversary here on Friday.

The head of sate said that to improve Bulog's performance, the state company should have an efficient and punctual food distribution system.

"Bulog at present is able to develop its performance on the basis of good governance and thus it should continue to be improved," the president said, adding that Bulog had an important role to play in maintaining food resilience.

The head of state explained that the present government's policy on food resilience was intended to improve farmers' welfare and people's purchasing power.

Accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono when opening the Bulogvaganza at the Balai Kartini multi-purpose hall, the president mentioned five important things for all parties including Bulog in efforts to ensure food resilience in the country.

"With good and correct planning, we are able to understand what we are going to produce in the next 10 to 15 years. Such a planning has an intellectual aspect and therefore it cannot be based on a situational decision," the president said.

Five things the president considers important for Bulog are the continuation of agriculture, fishery, and forestry revitalization; food resilience improvement; food diversification effort in the development of cassava, sagu, and breadfruit products; being responsive in public service; and regional cooperation in food sector.

Meanwhile, Bulog chairman Mustafa Abubakar said Bulog had worked over the past 42 years to strengthen the country's food resilience.

Abubakar said the Bulogvaganza activities included a workshop on food resilience and a food exhibition dubbed "Indonesian Food Exotic".

On the occasion, a joint statement was signed by food managers of ASEAN member countries. The signatories included Encik Wan Razif W. Musa of Bernas of Malaysia, Jessup P. Navarro of the National Food Authority (NFA) of the Philippines, Tran Dong Kinh of Vietnam's Vinafood 2, Nattira Leewarepoorn of the Thai Public Warehouse Organization (PWO).

Bulog also signed human resource development cooperation agreements on Applied Logistic Education, with the Bandung Institute of Technology, and on Food Management Education with the Bogor Institute of Agriculture.

A cooperation agreement on cassava development was also signed by Bulog, PT Sriboga Raya, and PT Nectar Agro Nusantara.