Legislators support peat land mega-project

Legislators support peat land mega-project

JAKARTA (JP): Legislators yesterday supported the government's
plan to convert one million hectares of peat land into rice
fields in Central Kalimantan but stressed that thorough studies
were needed to ensure the mega project was a success.

Members of the House of Representatives' Budgetary Commission
voiced their support in a hearing yesterday with members of the
Indonesian Peat Society.

During the hearing, the chairman of the society, Bambang
Setiadi, acknowledged that by opening up the peat land, Indonesia
could reduce its imports of several important commodities, such
as soybeans, corn, peanuts and rice.

"The import value of the commodities, which total some Rp 4
trillion (US$1.74 billion) per annum, can actually be used for
cultivating those crops on peat land," Bambang said.

The giant project is part of the government's efforts to
rejuvenate the country's self-sufficiency in rice.

Indonesia used to be the biggest rice importer in the world
but became self-sufficient in 1984. Rice exports exceeded imports
until 1993, but the country had to start importing again in 1994.

That year rice production fell to 46.6 million tons -- the
lowest level in 15 years -- from 48.2 million tons in 1993. The
decline was caused by unfavorable weather and plant diseases.

Bambang pointed out yesterday that in spite of the
government's optimism over the project, several aspects should be
studied thoroughly.

Authority

"The society believes that a special authority for the project
is needed, considering the size of the project is almost 10 times
the size of Singapore," he said.

He also reiterated that the most important aspect of the
project was not the opening up the one million hectares of peat
land but increasing the land's fertility.

"Without increasing the land's fertility, we cannot expect
transmigrants, who are expected to be the tillers, to be willing
to work in the area. Otherwise, we will surely face serious
problems... Peat land must be tilled immediately after it is
exposed," Bambang said.

He also considered research an important part of the project
because special treatment would be needed to cultivate vegetation
on the highly acid peat moss.

"The project needs sound and careful management. If it fails,
we will be criticized, particularly by the international
community," he warned.

During yesterday's hearing legislators questioned Law No.
24/1992, which declares peat land a protected area.

But Bambang pointed out that another regulation, Presidential
Decree No. 32/1990, specifies that the protected areas are
limited to those which have a moss layer of at least three meters
thick and are located on the upstream areas of rivers.

Legislator Sulaiman Biyahimo, from the United Development
Party, said the project should be located in various areas, and
not limited to a single plot of land, to prevent large amounts of
deforestation.

Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo said earlier
this week that 60 percent of the peat land intended for the
project consisted of forests.

The area overlaps with the concessions of 15 forestry
companies. (pwn)