Boediono in Gorontalo to hand over PNPM fund

GORONTALO: Vice President Beodiono visited Gorontalo on Tuesday to meet with farmers and hand over a Community Empowerment fund (PNPM Mandiri) totaling Rp 144 billion (about US$15 million).

During the meeting, Boediono told farmers to continue planting corn as the commodity had a bright future as both a food and bio-fuel product.

"This commodity will still be promising even 20 years down the road," Boediono said.

Gorontalo acting Governor Gusnar Ismail said corn production in the province continued to increase to 780 tons of corn this year, as compared to 81 tons in 2001.

During the visit, Boediono was accompanied by State SOE Minister Mustafa Abubakar and State Fishery and Maritime Affairs Minister Fadel Muhammad, who is also former governor of Gorontalo. - JP