Jakarta is studying doing the importation itself, but has to consider spending limits under the IMF scheme. Indonesians are bracing for uncertain months ahead with regard to food. Amid drought woes and late harvests, experts say food production fell by 4 percent last year and may fall by the same margin this year. Long proud of self-sufficiency, Indonesia began importing rice in December. The currency crisis has made it harder to afford items like wheat, sugar and soybeans.
All wheat is imported, while one-third of sugar and soybeans comes from overseas.
Indonesia gets more than 60 percent of its soybeans from the United States. Thousands of tofu and tempeh producers have been forced to halt operations due to the scarcity of soybeans, half of whose supply used to come from Bulog. The worrisome food picture has rekindled a debate over how to meet the IMF's conditions of letting the free market set prices, while assuring Indonesians of affordable food during a tight supply situation. There are no easy answers.