Importing Rice Not Good Policy

Purwokerto, C Java (Antara Bali) - Importing rice is not a good policy because it is the simplest effort to solve the problem of rice, according to Professor Totok Agung Dwi Haryanto, an agricultural expert of the University of Jenderal Soedirman (Unsoed).

"It is better to strengthen the basis of rice production capacity at home rather than importing it," the agricultural expert of Unsoed remarked here on Sunday.

Further, he claimed to support if there is a rejection of imported rice.

But he added that if there is any imported rice, it should immediately sent to the areas that may have potential of rice shortage.

"The imported rice should be stored in the warehouses, and then distributed as a backup when it is really needed," the professor of Unsoed's Faculty of Agriculture noted.

According to him, the provinces of Central Java and East Java are not the areas with the potential of food shortage, because the rice potential from the two provinces is sufficient enough to support domestic production. (WDY)