President Joko Widodo orders food agency to increase rice supplies

 Indonesia President Joko Widodo has ordered the national food agencyto distribute rice supplies from state logistics agency, to the market following reports of rice shortage after an internal meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

He gave the order to prevent issues of rice shortages in a number of retailers. Previously, modern retailers said they were facing a shortage of five-kilogram premium rice due to rising prices at the producer level. It’s reported that President Widodo plans to visit the wholesale rice market in East Jakarta to ensure the smooth transfer of rice supplies from ports to the market.