S. Korea helps Bogor's farmers

BOGOR: South Korea Ambassador to Indonesia Yun Hai-jung handed over farming equipment and seeds to Bogor regent Agus Utara Effendi on Wednesday at Singabraga village, Tenjo district, Bogor regency.

The cooperation, which started last February, was aimed at cultivating a six-hectare plot of land, owned by the regency, in the village.

Agus said in his speech that the purpose of the cooperation was to improve local farmers' knowledge of crops and farming technology.

Ten farmers have joined a one-year course in South Korea while several agricultural experts from South Korea have given guidelines to local farmers.

Ambassador Yun said that farming has played a great role in the economic progress of South Korea for 30 years.

"Farming is one of our country's potentials. I believe this project will be an example of bilateral cooperation in farming between Indonesia and South Korea," he said, adding that the pilot project in Singabraga is expected to increase the farmers' income in Tenjo.

Should the project be successful, the regency and South Korea plan to build a training center for farmers and a research center for the development of seeds. -- JP