Less dependency on rice urged

DEMAK, Central Java: President Abdurrahman Wahid asked farmers here to reduce their dependency on rice and start to grow other plants in order to increase their income.

Speaking before the farmers after Friday prayers at the grand mosque here, Abdurrahman said that other countries such as Vietnam were increasing their rice production. It also planned to grow rice in an area of one million hectares.

"In the next one or two years, there will be a rice surplus all over the world. This is a consequence of improving economies," he said.

Abdurrahman added that while it was not easy to compete, it was better for farmers to plant other products that could be sold at a higher price than rice. (har/hdn)