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Indonesia Mega Food Estate

Indonesians Food Estate will Clear a Area of Jungle 10 Times the Size of Singapore

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Download Indonesia wants to turn itself into a global food producer.

To do that the government plans to turn 1.6 million hectares of land, in the eastern most province of Papua, into fields for crops such as rice, corn, soybean, sugar and palm oil.

Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country and jungle-clad Papua is its poorest region.

Supporters of the project say it will reduce Indonesia’s dependence on imports.

But it has sparked concerns about widespread forest destruction and the marginalisation of local farmers.

Liza Desylanhi went to the proposed site in Merauke to investigate.

In the second of her two part series she hears from the opponents of the project.

Last Updated ( Monday, 04 October 2010 10:52 )
 

Indonesia Plans a Massive Food Estate in Jungle-clad Papua

E-mail Print PDF

Download Indonesia wants to turn itself into a global food producer.

To do that the government plans to turn 1.6 million hectares of land, in the eastern most province of Papua, into fields for crops such as rice, corn, soybean, sugar and palm oil.

Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country and jungle-clad Papua is its poorest region.

Supporters of the project say it will reduce Indonesia’s dependence on imports. 

But it has sparked concerns about widespread forest destruction and the marginalisation of local farmers.

Liza Desylanhi went to the proposed site in Merauke to investigate.

In the first of her two part series she hears from the supporters of the project.

Last Updated ( Monday, 27 September 2010 11:01 )