JAKARTA, 22 February 2008 - Indonesia will not buy rice from other countries this year because domestic supplies can meet the national demand, an official said Thursday. "The 2008 rice procurement will be filled entirely by domestic sources," state logistics agency Bulog head Mustofa Abubakar was quoted by leading news website Detikcom as saying.

Rice production is expected to increase by some 6 percent to 35million tons in 2008 from last year's 33 million tons. "Up to now, we have no plan on rice import, not even for the purpose of stockpiling," he said during a visit to the Central Java town of Solo.

The last time Indonesia became self-sufficient in its staple food was during the leadership of military-backed Soeharto, who died last month at 86. The country has been dependent on rice import since his resignation in May 1998 that ended his 32-year authoritarian regime.

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