Billions earmarked for Aceh agriculture

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriantono said on Sunday the government would channel between Rp 300 billion (US$33.3 million) and Rp 400 billion to help rebuild the agricultural sector in Aceh following the tsunami.

Some of the money, which will come from state and provincial budgets, will go to rehabilitate paddy fields, said Anton, who visited a camp for displaced persons in Aceh Besar regency on Sunday.

He said at least 37,000 hectares of paddy fields and another 28,000 hectares of plantation areas were damaged in the Dec. 26 tsunami. -- Antara