REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's public company responsible for national logistical procurement, Perum Bulog expressed its optimism there will be no rice imports this year since domestic production and the company's rice procurement has reached 3.205 million tons by October 21, 2013.

President Director of Bulog Sutarto Alimoeso said, in Jakarta, Tuesday (22/10), Bulog's rice stock reached 2.5 million tons and after the distribution of rice to the poor (raskin), the estimated year-end stock reached 1.87 million ton.

"If there is no 13th, 14th, 15th raskin distribution then the existing stock will be plentiful," he said during a hearing with House of Representatives, Commission IV at the DPR/MPR building.

Sutarto said, the availability of rice stocks until October 21, 2013 which reached 2.5 million tons will be sufficient for further 9.3 months routine distribution requirements.

According to him, raskin distribution is the biggest part of Bulog activities compared to distribution of budget class rice and the government's rice reserves.

Raskin, he said, distributed through 58,226 distribution points throughout Indonesia, which until now its realization reached 2.79 million tons or 92.2 per cent from 3.02 million tons of its target as per January to October, including the 13th, 14th and 15th raskin. 

"Seeing the current economic conditions, until December this year, its expected there will be no more rice import," he said.

Speaking of the hike of grain and rice price, he said, it is still above the Government Purchase Price (HPP). According to him, the price of grain in September 2013 reached Rp 4,047 per kg or 20.60 percent above the HPP while the cheapest prices of rice at retail level reached Rp 8,675 per kg or 30.86 percent above the HPP.

"The price of rice in Cipinang medium market rose Rp 50 to Rp 100 per kilogram compared to last year price. Its expected there will be no escalation of price next month," he said.

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