FAO to supply rice to farmers

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will supply local farmers with tons of rice following a failed harvest in several parts of the province last year.

Spokesman of the provincial agriculture office, LM Safei Kahar, said yesterday that the aid was part of the FAO/World Food Program's (WFP) crop and food supply assessment mission to help the farmers.

"Each farmer receives two kilograms of rice per working day," he said.

Areas severely hit by the drought included the subdistricts of Pondidaha, Wawotobi and Abuki, all considered rice-producing centers, he said as quoted by Antara. (mds)