National rice production to surpass target

Indonesia's rice production is estimated to surpass the target set at around 38 million tons this year as until October production has almost reached it. (illustration)

Republika/Agung Supriyanto Indonesia's rice production is estimated to surpass the target set at around 38 million tons this year as until October production has almost reached it. (illustration)

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia's rice production was estimated to surpass the target set at around 38 million tons this year as until October production had almost reached it, Rusman Heriawan said.

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"We are optimistic the target would be achieved and even surpassed as until October production has been close to the target," the deputy minister of agriculture said on the sideline of a grand harvest in the village of Ampeldento, Malang, East Java, on Wednesday. He said once the target was met, it meant national rice production was up by five percent from last year`s recorded at 36.19 million tons.

While Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Hatta Rajasa, said on the occasion that the government would work all-out to achieve self-sufficiency in food supply by continuing to increase food supplies in the logistics agency Bulog. "We will strive to keep rice supply at Bulog at around 2.2 million tons to meet needs for a period of seven months. Imports will only be done to fill gaps in the Bulog stock," he added.