Fishermen Receive Free Rice

Friday, 27 February, 2009 | 16:16 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Slawi: The Central Java government is distributing 30 tons of free rice to 6.000 fishermen in Tegal regency. Each family head will receive five kilograms. “We are distributing the rice to fishermen who are using boats under five tons,” said Wanadi, Tegal’s Indonesian Fishermen's Association chairman, yesterday.

According to Wanadi, the donation is aimed at helping small-scale fishermen who are suffering from a bad season due to the rainy season and storms. The rice is being distributed through a village cooperative unit (KUD) which has been the fishermen’s partner.

Upaya Mina KUD chief in Surodadi village in Tegal, Warsono, said he was happy to have the rice donation because it would really help fishermen who have not been able to go fishing as often as before. “At least this will reduce their expenses,” he said.

According to Warsono, so far the Upaya Mina KUD has only donated four tons of rice to small-scale fishermen who are its members. As much as 22 tons of rice from the governor has been distributed by the KUD and is intended for 4.400 poor fishermen. Meanwhile, the remaining 8 tons were distributed by Mina Agung KUD to Larangan village.

EDI FAISOL

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