NTT farmers seek greener pastures

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Unproductive land, and not the dense population, is the main reason why many from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) join the transmigration program, said Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo.

"The program is aimed at raising the income of farmers," Siswono said here Thursday.

He said that in contrast, land in Java is fertile, yet farmers migrate to other provinces because the island's population is so dense that they have to till smaller farms.

Siswono said that from 1980 to 1990, 27,107 people have migrated to East Nusa Tenggara while 45,620 locals have resettled in other provinces.

"By 2000, it is expected that all 27 provinces in the country will be recipients of transmigrants, especially those from Java," he said as quoted by Antara. (mds)