DELISERDANG, Indonesia -- The Indonesian government is forging ahead with a plan to create huge national food estates in the provinces of North Sumatra and Central Kalimantan despite concern from scientists over their viability.
In October, President Joko Widodo visited Ria-ria, a village in the North Sumatra regency of Humbang Hasundutan, to observe the development of farmland in what the provincial government calls a virgin, never-cultivated area. The president, commonly known as Jokowi, said the area would be planted with potatoes, red onions and garlic, and "we will see the result in the next two or 2 1/2 months."
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