Pontianak (Antaranews Kalbar) - A lawmaker has criticized the government plan to import rice as unnecessary with grand harvest coming in two weeks.
"It would be a blow to the farmers. In two weeks harvest would take place. It is not fair to the farmers, which have worked hard, hoping a better day after the harvest," Deputy Chairman of the Commission IV of the House of Representatives Daniel Johan said here on Saturday.
Daniel said imports would not help any , adding importing rice would need at least one month before the rice hits the market, meanwhile harvest will take place in two weeks.
"Poor farmers would be deeply disappointed. Imports are not always bad but should not be driven by impulse without first studying data," he said.
Rice price hike lately has prompted the government to import 500,000 tons of rice from Vietnam and Thailand to cope with shrinking stock in the country.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said if rice price would not return to the normal level, imports would be needed, adding imports would not hurt the farmers.
Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said import is an effective short term solution to keep stock at safe level and to bring down the price. The imports are expected to arrive in the country by the end of January just before harvest takes place early February.
Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman, who only recently said that there was no more need to import rice, said on Friday the import is not significant compared to monthly consumption of 2.5 million tons.
The 500,000 tons to be imported are only to cover six day requirement, Amran added. *
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Kalimantan Barat 2018
"It would be a blow to the farmers. In two weeks harvest would take place. It is not fair to the farmers, which have worked hard, hoping a better day after the harvest," Deputy Chairman of the Commission IV of the House of Representatives Daniel Johan said here on Saturday.
Daniel said imports would not help any , adding importing rice would need at least one month before the rice hits the market, meanwhile harvest will take place in two weeks.
"Poor farmers would be deeply disappointed. Imports are not always bad but should not be driven by impulse without first studying data," he said.
Rice price hike lately has prompted the government to import 500,000 tons of rice from Vietnam and Thailand to cope with shrinking stock in the country.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said if rice price would not return to the normal level, imports would be needed, adding imports would not hurt the farmers.
Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said import is an effective short term solution to keep stock at safe level and to bring down the price. The imports are expected to arrive in the country by the end of January just before harvest takes place early February.
Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman, who only recently said that there was no more need to import rice, said on Friday the import is not significant compared to monthly consumption of 2.5 million tons.
The 500,000 tons to be imported are only to cover six day requirement, Amran added. *
Editor : Teguh Imam Wibowo
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Kalimantan Barat 2018