Farming agency blasted for breaking its promise

Farming agency blasted for breaking its promise

JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta Mayoralty expressed
disappointment on Monday over the City Agriculture Agency's
failure to keep its promise to provide trees for the
reforestation program in the area.

The protest was aired by Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur
Abdullah in a statement, copies of which were made available to
the press on Monday.

"In December of last year, head of the agency, Srikanti
Wiwahari, promised to provide 100,000 trees for the city
reforestation program, some 10,000 of which were to be planted in
the Central Jakarta area," Andi said.

In a meeting at the Central Jakarta mayoralty office on
Monday, the agency's head for production division, Soma
Hairuddin, disclosed that the agency would provide 150 trees to
the program.

Andi said he was still expecting the delivery of the trees as
Srikanti promised.

He urged the agency early this March to provide the trees
before the program started -- it was slated to begin the second
week of this month.

"The call was made because we want to take advantage of the
heavy rainfall during April and May, conditions which are
believed to be good for the growth of the newly planted trees,"
he said.

Andi said that he and his staff mobilized residents to support
the program by participating in the planting of the trees. The
residents, he said, have already prepared themselves to take part
in the event.

In Central Jakarta, there are at least 700 hectares of land --
which represents 15 percent of the total area -- that need to be
reforested.

Andi said the trees would be distributed to all 44
subdistricts in the area. Each will receive 227 trees.

The program is part of the campaign Governor Sutiyoso
initiated for a Green Jakarta.

Andi said the Central Jakarta mayoralty had declared former
Kemayoran Airport, the former Lapangan Banteng bus terminal, the
National Monument (Monas) park and Senayan area, as green areas.

Starfruit, guava and cashew trees will be planted in Tanah
Abang district and colorful flowers will be planted in all of the
mayoralty's eight districts.

Separately, Srikanti told the Jakarta Post that the agency
would be ready to provide the trees as promised, but the
distribution of the trees would be the responsibility of the
Central Jakarta Agriculture Agency.

"We'll send the trees upon request of the agency," Srikanti
said.

He urged the Central Jakarta mayoralty to take good care of
the trees while they wait in limbo to be planted. (06)