Swapping tempeh for bricks<\/p>\n
SURABAYA, East Java: Nearly one-third of the 38,000
\ntraditional tempeh and tofu makers in East Java have suspended
\ntheir activities and taken up work as construction workers as
\nthey can no longer attain working capital.<\/p>\n
\"About 30 percent of them in the last few months have been
\nforced to take up work as construction workers because of the
\ndifficulty in receiving capital,\" Benang Danungkusumo, head of
\nthe East Java branch of the Indonesian Communication Forum of
\nTofu and Tempeh Cooperatives, said here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Benang explained that the collapse of the banking sector had
\nresulted in a drying up of credit funds for small enterprises.<\/p>\n
The situation is compounded as only 4,000 of the 38,000 tofu
\nand tempeh makers are members of the cooperative and eligible to
\nreceive support.<\/p>\n
According to Benang, to support East Java cooperative members
\nabout Rp 8 billion (US$1.06 million) has to be readied each month
\nto purchase imported soybeans, the basic ingredient for the
\npopular Indonesian delicacy.<\/p>\n
\"We urge the government to lend a hand so banks would be
\nwilling to disperse capital,\" he said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/swapping-tempeh-for-bricks-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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