Fields remain untilled

Fields remain untilled

MUARA TEWEH, Central Kalimantan: Hundreds of thousands of
hectares of fields in North Barito regency, Central Kalimantan,
have been deserted by would-be investors.

Head of the regency's plantation office Esganda Wangi said on
Saturday that only 28,712 of 280,570 hectares designated as
plantation fields were being cultivated.

At least 21 investors have applied for business licenses since
1996, but only two have started business.

The investors intended to invest in oil palm plantations and
rubber plantations, Eganda said without revealing the total value
of the investment plans.

According to the head of local agrarian office, Budi, only 11
of the 21 investors had been awarded business licenses, nine of
which had expired.

Budi said the remaining nine would have to reapply if they
wanted to continue business there. --Antara