Gulf runs farming program

JAKARTA (JP): Oil and gas company PT Gulf Indonesia Resources, a subsidiary of Canadian firm Gulf Resources, said it had begun a community development program to promote the welfare of farmers near its areas of operation in Ramba and Grissik, South Sumatra.

The company said in a statement over the weekend it had recently sent 40 farmers from villages near Ramba and Grissik to a two-week farming program at the Karya Nyata training center in Bogor, West Java.

Gulf then provided the farmers with funds to begin their own farms. The farmers are expected to repay the company in installments over 30 months after their farms are up and running.

The funds will be later passed on to other farmers in the areas in a similar program.

The company said it hired a consultant to guide the farmers and it would increase the funds if the pilot project was successful. (jsk)