WEST ACEH TO DEVELOP 10,000 HA OF RUBBER PLANTATIONS

Banda Aceh, Jan 16 (ANTARA) - The West Aceh district administration has set itself the target of developing 10,000 hectares of smallholder rubber plantations until 2012.

"The development of rubber plantations is part of our efforts to speed up economic development," Aceh Besar deputy district head Fuadri said here on Saturday.

He said plantation, agriculture and fishery were key sectors to speed up the economic growth of the district located in the western coast of Aceh province.

"We see the plantation, agricultural and fishery sectors have great potentials to develop. Rubber is one of the key commodities we will develop in 2010," he said.

He said a program on the development of smallholder rubber plantation in the district was commenced in 2007 using district budget funds. Since then, 4,000 hectares of rubber plantation had been developed under the program.

In 2010, the government had allocated Rp14 billion in funds for the development of 3,000 hectares of smallholder rubber plantation in the district, he said.

"We fully entrust the management of rubber plantation to the local people in the hope that it will serve as an economic growth stimulus and create job opportunities for the local people," he said.