Shrimp farmers may lose jobs

PATI, Central Java: Hundreds of shrimp farmers may have their saltwater ponds seized by Bank Rakyat Indonesia because they failed to pay their credit on time.

The farmers, who used their ponds as collateral, said they could not pay their debts because a disease affecting the shrimp has shattered their dreams for a good harvest this season.

"My debt is only about Rp 7 million (US$2,900) but I cannot pay it back because we will not be able to harvest our prawns for two consecutive seasons," Soeharto, one of the farmers, told Antara yesterday.

Their troubles began last week after the farmers received summons' from the local court regarding their unpaid debts. They were told they would have to lose their ponds, the only source of income for most of them, if they failed to show up.

Concerned by the news, the local legislative council has promised to help the farmers. Councilors said they will ask the bank to allow more time for the farmers to pay their debts.

"The bank should not hastily seize the ponds because they are the only source of livelihood for many people here," said Atja Soewangsa, chairman of the Golkar faction in the Central Java provincial legislative council. (pan)