Soybean seeds from Australia

JAKARTA (JP): The Northern Territory government of Australia has granted 17 tons of soybean seeds to the Indonesian government through the Ministry of Agriculture as part of its assistance to help the country cope with the crisis.

Shane L. Stone, the chief minister of the Northern Territory government, said the seeds were expected to increase Indonesia's soybean production area to two million hectares from 1.5 million hectares at present.

"The first trial plantation will commence in Java island," he said, adding that the Northern Territory government would provide Indonesian farmers with sophisticated technology to grow the soybeans. (aly)