RI gets $130m loan from ADB

RI gets $130m loan from ADB

MANILA (AFP): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said here yesterday that it had approved a US$130 million loan for a project to promote sustainable irrigated agriculture in Indonesia.

The loan will go to a project to raise agricultural productivity by improving irrigation systems and agencies including farmers' associations, the Manila-based ADB said in a statement.

Five Indonesian provinces -- Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau and Jambi, all on the island of Sumatra -- will benefit from the project, which will include strengthening operation and maintenance of irrigation projects and improving the skills of agencies and groups involved in managing water resources.

The total cost of the project is $217 million, with the Indonesian government providing financing of $83.9 million and the farmers providing $3.1 million, the ADB said.