Philippines: Bulog prioritizes purchase of domestic unhulled rice

National Logistics Agency (Bulog) President Director Mustafa Abubakar said Bulog remained to prioritize the purchase of domestic unhulled rice and rice while rice imports would only be the last choice for the national rice procurement.

Mustafa made the remark to demonstrators from the Indonesian Muslim University Students` Action Unit (KAMMI) Thursday when he attended Bulog`s technical coordination meeting on the procurement of unhulled rice/rice 2007.

According to Mustafa, the measure was taken in an effort to increase the purchase of unhulled rice/rice from the farmers for the national food procurement.

In support of the measure, Bulog also involved new graduates from the agriculture faculty of 13 universities and the Indonesian Farmers Association among other farmer organizations.