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)