Aceh needs Rp 400b to rebuild agriculture

Aceh needs Rp 400b to rebuild agriculture

The government has allocated around Rp 400 billion (US$43
million) fund to help rebuild the agriculture sector in the
devastated province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam following Dec. 26
earthquake and tsunami.

Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono said during his
visit to Aceh Besar regency on Sunday that more than 37,000
hectares of rice fields and 28,000 hectares of plantations in
nine regencies were severely damaged by the calamities.

"The government's first step to rebuild the agricultural
sector in Aceh will be by restoring some rice fields and
plantations that were less severely damaged, so that the economy
can be restarted," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

"Farmers, whose rice fields and plantations are located near
the coast, will get new plot of land in another area so they can
start working," he added.

Anton said that apart from that, the government also plans to
open a palm tree plantation in Bireuen regency.

"The opening of the plantation is aimed at providing jobs for
locals."

The tsunami not only claimed more than 120,000 lives but also
left at least 600,000 others jobless, according to the
International Labor Organization (ILO).

In the meantime, the agriculture ministry is awaiting the
government's master plan for the reconstruction of Aceh before
making further policies.

Data from the ministry reveals that a total of 8,275 hectares
of irrigated fields in eight regencies were also damaged. -- JP