USDA plans Indonesian aid

USDA plans Indonesian aid

WASHINGTON (Reuters): The U.S. Agriculture Department is still considering extending PL480 program assistance to help financially struggling Indonesia buy U.S. agricultural goods, a USDA aide said Monday.

"We're still working on it," USDA Undersecretary Gus Schumacher told reporters.

Schumacher said the USDA is working with the U.S. Agency for International Development on the PL480 program for Indonesia. Schumacher and other USDA officials first raised the possibility of a Title 1 PL480 program for Indonesia after they traveled to Southeast Asia in January to assess the region's financial woes.

Under Title 1 of the PL480 program, USDA extends long-term, low-interest loans to help developing countries buy U.S. farm goods.