Bulog to auction 380,000 tons of downgraded rice for flour

Perum Bulog will auction 380,000 tons of rice whose quality has declined to be processed into flour, following a government food coordination meeting. Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani said the auction will be handled through Kantor Pelayanan Kekayaan Negara dan Lelang across Indonesia, not only in Jakarta, with priority for micro, small and medium enterprises. The rice being released is stock that has been stored for more than six months in line with regulations. Bulog said the move is intended to prevent the government's rice reserves from continuing to deteriorate in quality and causing state losses. Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan said the rice can be bought by flour mills so its economic value is maintained and flour prices are helped lower.