ID :
23808
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 21:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23808
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NATIONAL FOOD STOCKS SAFE : OFFICIAL
Jakarta, Oct 10 (ANTARA) - A senior government official said here on Friday domestic food stocks are safe in the face of the impact of the current global crisis which is already beginning to be felt in Indonesia.
"Thank God, the safety of the country's food supply is assured. The stocks exist physically. Job and income opportunities also continue to exist, meaning there will still be buying power," deputy for agricultural and fishery affairs to the economic affairs coordinating minister, Bayu Krinamurthi, said here on Friday.
He said these were conditions that would be used or become the country's strength to weather the current upheavals.
The world financial crisis would not immediately spread to the agricultural sector so that countries in the world had time to prepare themselves, he said.
"There is a time lag so, hopefully, financial conditions will already have begun to improve before the crisis spreads to the agricultural sector," he said.
He said growth of agricultural products remained strong and the Central Bureau of Statistics had not yet changed its forecasts.
"Rice production is predicted to rise 4.7 percent this year. This will provide a cushion for our economy," he said.
He said although food stocks were safe, the government would extend the existence of its staple food price monitoring center set up to monitor prices during the recent Idul Fitri holiday season.
"The center will continue to function because we do not want to see the impact of the crisis to spread to other setors. We must ensure that supply remains safe. Although in terms of quantity the stocks are safe, we will continue to monitor the prices aspect of the food supply situation as the prices are also an important indicator," he said.
"Thank God, the safety of the country's food supply is assured. The stocks exist physically. Job and income opportunities also continue to exist, meaning there will still be buying power," deputy for agricultural and fishery affairs to the economic affairs coordinating minister, Bayu Krinamurthi, said here on Friday.
He said these were conditions that would be used or become the country's strength to weather the current upheavals.
The world financial crisis would not immediately spread to the agricultural sector so that countries in the world had time to prepare themselves, he said.
"There is a time lag so, hopefully, financial conditions will already have begun to improve before the crisis spreads to the agricultural sector," he said.
He said growth of agricultural products remained strong and the Central Bureau of Statistics had not yet changed its forecasts.
"Rice production is predicted to rise 4.7 percent this year. This will provide a cushion for our economy," he said.
He said although food stocks were safe, the government would extend the existence of its staple food price monitoring center set up to monitor prices during the recent Idul Fitri holiday season.
"The center will continue to function because we do not want to see the impact of the crisis to spread to other setors. We must ensure that supply remains safe. Although in terms of quantity the stocks are safe, we will continue to monitor the prices aspect of the food supply situation as the prices are also an important indicator," he said.
