Jakarta pigs find no home in West Java

Jakarta pigs find no home in West Java

JAKARTA (JP): The city's plan to relocate pig farms from West
Jakarta to West Java has been put on hold because West Java
Governor Nuriana is against the plan, an official said yesterday.

Deputy Governor of Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi said
that up to now the city administration had not determined which
plots would be appropriate for pig farms.

"We are to discuss the matter with pig farm businesspeople and
the West Jakarta mayor," he said.

The administration decided in 1995 to move a pig farm complex
in Kapuk, West Jakarta, to West Java because residential areas
around the farms had expanded.

An official of the city's Animal Husbandry Agency, who asked
for anonymity, said yesterday that a gubernatorial decree
prohibiting pig farming in West Jakarta had been issued owing to
offensive waste and the changes in land uses in the areas.

The 18.7-hectare pig farming complex with the capacity of
raising 40,000 pigs is owned by 60 farmers, she said.

In a letter to Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso dated Dec. 31, 1997,
Governor Nuriana said four pig farming companies had proposed
they relocate their farms to West Java. The four companies were
PT Ternindo Cibaru Perkasa, PT Sari Kencana, PT Dairi Lestari and
PT Raja Lontung Putra.

"We had looked into Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi, Karawang,
Subang, Lebak and Indramayu regencies to accommodate the
relocation, but none of the regencies agreed to the plan.

"Based on each regency's land use plan and their social,
cultural and religious aspects, West Java's people could not
accept the existence of pig farms," the letter said.

The animal husbandry agency official said pig farming in Kapuk
started in 1962. "Back then the farming started with a total of
130 hectares of land," she said.

The farming areas had decreased to about 75 hectares by 1986,
she said, because people were selling their land to housing
complex developers.

"The area is no longer suitable for pig farming because there
is rapid development in the area. As many houses are built,
residents reject the existence of pig farming because it brings
abundant waste," she added.

"Since last July, farmers have gradually moved from West
Jakarta. I don't know exactly where they are right now. But the
pig slaughterhouse still exists there because the decree only
prohibits pig farming," she added.

"We are waiting for the municipality's decision on this. We
hope there will be a solution to this matter soon," she added.
(edt/ind)