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