The regency administration in Cirebon, West Java, has allocated 10,000 hectares of land for organic farms, an official announced Friday. Local agriculture agency head Ali Effendi said 400 farming communities would be trained in several stages over the next five years to manage the organic farms. "We aim to open up 2,000 hectares of new organic farmland each year," he said, adding the farms would be developed in 40 districts across the regency.

JAKARTA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Rebutting criticism by environmentalists, some officials said that mining could pose minimum risk to environment as long as it is conducted legally with modern equipment and in-depth study.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati stepped up her drive to reform the tax and customs directorates on Friday by inaugurating a new regulatory body called the Taxation Supervisory Committee. “This committee should be the voice of taxpayers but also can help ensure the important role of taxation in contributing revenue to the state,” Sri Mulyani said in a speech after the inauguration ceremony.