Monsanto helps E. Java farmers

Monsanto helps E. Java farmers

JAKARTA: Monsanto Fund has provided a grant of Rp 250 million
(US$25,000) to help improve the skills of East Java farmers in
Kediri.

The director of non-government organization Utika Mandiri, St.
Notobudhiharjo, who received the fund Wednesday, said it would be
used for a farmers' empowerment project.

The project will include, among other things, entrepreneurship
training, micro-financing management, post-harvesting management
and micro financing services.

A total of 2,500 farmers will be involved comprising 100
farmer groups working on a total land area of 200 hectares.

Monsanto Fund was established in 1964 as the philanthropic arm
of Monsanto Company. --JP