EU finances agricultural projects in Bali<\/p>\n
Rita A. Widiadana
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nSingaraja, North Bali<\/p>\n
Ambassador\/Head of the Delegation of the European Commission
\nSabato Dela Monica and Bali Governor I Dewa Made Beratha
\ninaugurated a 6.625 million Euro (Rp 58 billion) irrigated
\nagricultural projects in several impoverished villages in
\nBuleleng, North Bali, and Karangasem in East Bali on Friday.<\/p>\n
The projects are the continuation of the North Bali Ground
\nWater Irrigation and Water Supply which were completed in l999.
\nThe projects, however, had to be redesigned during its
\nimplementation due to a number of technical reasons.<\/p>\n
The first-phase of the project, 15 ground water irrigation
\nsystems are already completed and operational. For the remaining
\n15 locations, the survey, investigation and design (SID)
\nprocesses had been completed and deep wells constructed.<\/p>\n
The second-phase of the project will involve piped irrigation
\ndistribution networks and pumping systems to be installed in 15
\nexisting sub-project areas, and rehabilitation and upgrading of
\nthe nine existing system.<\/p>\n
Governor Dewa Beratha expressed the hope that the project
\nwould benefit local people who are now living in dry and
\ninfertile areas in northern and eastern parts of Bali.<\/p>\n
"Bali is divided into two areas --the rich and the poor areas.
\nIn the southern part of the island, there are abundant of water
\nresources because these areas posses rivers and lakes, but in the
\nnorthern and eastern parts, people have to dig wells hundreds of
\nmeters from the ground level to get water for drinking and
\nirrigation," he said.<\/p>\n
It is hoped that the project would provide local people with
\nadequate water for irrigation and daily needs, he said.<\/p>\n
Buleleng regency has been known as an agricultural area but
\ndue to lack of water and irrigation system, the result is not so
\nencouraging.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Ambassador Dela Monica insisted that the project
\nreflects the European Union's strong commitment to help Indonesia
\nin its effort to reduce poverty in the country.<\/p>\n
The European Union has committed to providing 6.125 million
\nEuros in grant, and the remaining 500,000 Euro has to be
\nallocated by the Indonesian government.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Settlements and Regional Infrastructure will
\nexecute the projects, with the Bali provincial irrigation
\nservices acting as the implementing agency.<\/p>\n
The projects have been established based on the European
\nCommission 's Country strategy paper for Indonesia, which
\nprovides the framework to focus and target all of the European
\nUnion's assistance during a five-year period of 2002-2006.<\/p>\n
An indicative sum of 216 million Euros has been earmarked to
\nfinance this strategy for Indonesia including to promote good
\ngovernance, health and education, sustainable management of
\nnatural resources, poverty alleviation programs and women's
\nempowerment.<\/p>\n
"The aim of the project is to empower the grass root, to
\nintroduce high income generating mixed farming systems through
\nthe introduction of new high yielding crops; to increase the
\ninvolvement of female community members in agriculture and other
\nincome generating activities; and to enhance the professional
\ncapacity of local irrigation and agricultural organizations," the
\nambassador said.<\/p>\n
The project is being implemented in a number of remote and
\npoor villages of Bondalem in Buleleng and Les village in
\nKarangasem regency.<\/p>\n
During a site visit to one of the Tubewell User Groups (TUGs)
\nin Les village, around 45 kilometer east of Singaraja, Bali
\ngovernor Dewa Beratha accompanied an entourage of Ambassadors and
\nhigh-ranking diplomats from the European Union countries which
\ninclude the Ambassador of Greece Alexios Christopoulous, the
\nAmbassador of the Netherlands Ruud Treffers, the Ambassador of
\nSpain Damaso de Lario, Ambassador\/ Head of the delegation of the
\nEuropean Commission Sabata Dela Monica and other senior diplomats
\nfrom the Embassies of Portugal, Finland and France.<\/p>\n
"These projects are yours (Indonesian people) not the European
\nUnion's, therefore participations of all stakeholders including
\nfarmers and local community should be encouraged," Ambassador
\nDela Monica told The Jakarta Post and Kompas.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eu-finances-agricultural-projects-in-bali-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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