Farming on deserted land

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)