Shrimp farmers may lose jobs

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)