AN expanse of green extends over large areas of forest land at Semangat in the Papua district of Merauke. Medco Foundation, holder of a forest concession, is growing high-yield SRI rice varieties initially on 5 hectares of land in the area. Plans for growing corn on another 5-hectare plot were postponed until the end of the rainy season.

At nearby Kurik, Bangun Cipta had just gathered a bumper harvest of corn leaving the acreage with only remnants