Rp 27 billion lost in fires

Rp 27 billion lost in fires

BANDARLAMPUNG: The plantation sector suffered losses of Rp 27 billion (US$12 million) from the fires and drought that hit the province last year.

Speaking in a hearing with the provincial legislators on Thursday, head of the plantation section of the provincial agriculture office Subagyono Darmowiyono said that a total of 25,000 hectares of plantations were damaged in last year's fires and drought.

"As a result, various commodities in many plantation areas in the province cannot be harvested," he told Antara.

He added that the government's income from the sector for the 1994-1995 fiscal year, that will end this March, is expected to reach Rp 24 million (US$10,000).(rms)