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