Belgium donates 550 tractors

JAKARTA: The Belgian Embassy in Jakarta announced that Brussels had donated 550 hand tractors for farmers in the tsunami-affected Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province.

"These tractors will be distributed through the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Our Ambassador (Hans-Christian Kint) will be going to Aceh to attend the distribution program on Friday," Alain Hanssen, counselor and deputy head of mission of the Belgium Embassy, told The Jakarta Post.

Hanssen said the total cost of small lawnmower-sized plow machines is 780,000 euros (around US$1 million).

The donation is intended to rehabilitate some 430 hectares of farmland destroyed by the Dec. 26 tsunami tragedy. -- JP