"I got information from the governor that there are some areas facing water shortage problems. There are also regions which get water but the water can go fast. Wes support a program to build water reservoirs as many as possible," the president said when visiting a water reservoir at Naiola village, South Bikomi sub district, Timor Tengah Utara District, NTT, Thursday.
The reservoirs could also be used to benefit the sectors of animal husbandry, fishery and agriculture, he said.
The NTT authorities have set a target to build 72 water reservoirs in 2011 and some more in 2012.
"We want NTT to become a national animal husbandry center and a salt producer. We will secure not only the procurements of seedlings and cows, but also the infrastructures," the president said.
The head of state and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono earlier visited a fish nursery center at Bijeli, Naimuti sub district, Timor Tengah Utara District.
In the location, Yudhoyono took a close look at the nursery of catfish, nila and patin fingerlings.
He and the first lady also tested yellow cassava which have been cultivated in the region since 2002.
"It`s very testy," the president said.
During the trip from SoE, the capital of Timor Tengah Selatan District to Kefamenanu, Timor Tengah Utara District, local residents greeted the president and the first lady along the way.
The president had dialogs with several local people and asked about their conditions and their children`s conditions when he made stopovers in several places.
Among ministers accompanying President Yudhoyono in the working visit were Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad, National Education Minister Muhammad Nuh, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Least Developed Regions Minister Ahmad Helmy Faizal Zaini, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, NTT Governor Frans Lebu Raya, Commander of the National Defense Forces (TNI) Admiral Agus Suhartono, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi and Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
