Farming on deserted land

BOGOR (JP): Over seven hectares of disused land owned by real estate developers will be used to cultivate corn and peanuts to help raise food production, Bogor Mayor Eddy Gunardi said yesterday.

Eddy made the comments at the launch of a project to put neglected land on the Taman Jasmin housing complex in Tanah Sereal, Bogor, to better use.

"Corn and peanuts have been chosen because they are well suited to local soils and market opportunities," he said.

Six hectares will be devoted to growing corn and a further 1.2 hectares will be planted with peanuts, he said.

About 1,252 workers will be involved in the farming project. Workers will receive a daily wage of Rp 5,000 per day, he added.

The project is part of the city administration's drive to employ people who have lost their jobs as a direct result of the monetary crisis.

Head of the Bogor office of the Ministry of Agriculture Yuyu Sumono said that sale of the produce will be handled by local cooperatives. "The profits will be used to finance the next stage of the farming project," he added. (24/hhr)