Forest people resettled

Forest people resettled

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: A total of 350 families of
forest inhabitants have been included in a transmigration program
to Bulukatoang area, Maros regency.

The first group of 150 families of traditional farmers, or 600
people, were seen off on Thursday by Governor ZB Palaguna and
other officials. The remaining families will follow soon.

The Antara news agency reported that the farmers will occupy a
1,000 hectare plot of land in two villages and will be provided
with facilities such as housings and seeds.

The forest inhabitants, who for years had been practicing
slash-and-burn farming along the rivers of Tanralili and
Jeneberang, will enjoy the most advanced transmigration site in
the region.

Public facilities such as health clinics, mosques and a clean
water installation have been established in the area, it was
reported.

"The program was established to help you improve your welfare,
and to protect the environment that you occupied all this time,"
Palaguna told the farmers. (swe)