People told to join agro-estate program

People told to join agro-estate program

JAKARTA (JP): The government wants people who are interested
in the transmigration program to join the agro-estate program
through which they can buy land with bank loans.

Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodho told newsmen
after a meeting with President Soeharto at Bina Graha yesterday
that every transmigrant joining the program will get three
hectares of land.

He said that the first trial project for the program is
located in Banggai regency, Southeast Sulawesi. It is sponsored
by a local businessman, Haji Murad, who has allocated a 1,000-
hectare plot for a cacao plantation.

The minister said he was convinced that the transmigrants who
join the program will be able to repay their bank loans within
four or five years.

Siswono said that cacao has a good market now. "Haji Murad has
exported his cacao products to various international markets," he
said.

The minister cited oil palm, cashews, grapes and apples as
very promising commodities. "So, the program, which looks small,
has a great meaning for the people."

The minister also disclosed that 56 out of 2,611
transmigration projects had failed to help transmigrants improve
their standard of living due to various difficulties. They
included the limited area and fertility of plots of land and
flooding.

Some of the projects are located in isolated areas, Siswono
said.

He added that President Soeharto had given him three years to
overcome the problems.

The minister said the President also asked him to encourage
retired servicemen to join the government-sponsored
transmigration program.

"So far the government has only transmigrated about 800
retired officers annually," he said.

He added that every year between 16,000 and 19,000 members of
the Armed Forces go into retirement. (tis)