Japan aid on farming

JAKARTA (JP): The government of Japan yesterday endowed a 1.5 million yen (US$14.9 million) grant to improve food production by Indonesia's low income farmers.

The grant will be distributed in 17 provinces, most of which are located in eastern Indonesia. The funds will be used to finance the procurement of agricultural materials and equipment such as tractors, fertilizer and irrigation pumps.

Diplomatic notes of the grant were signed yesterday by Japanese Ambassador Taizo Watanabe and Indonesian Director General of Foreign Economic Relations Wisber Loeis.(mds)