Jakarta, Aug. 20 -- Trade Minister Budi Santoso says rice prices, which had previously increased despite abundant production, have begun to decline following smoother and faster distribution and monitoring efforts.

"Some prices have started to fall. We are continuing our monitoring. Now, modern retail outlets have also begun to stock SPHP (Food Supply and Price Stabilization) brand rice, although not yet 100 percent," Minister Santoso said here on Wednesday.

He believes that distribution issues were one of the contributing factors to the rise in national rice prices. "If modern retail sees a reduction in rice supply, then it is clearly a distribution issue. The stock is there," he stated.

Furthermore, the minister said his ministry, to...