Itja Frans

Itja Frans, a Christian priest, has done pioneering work in dry land agriculture for about twenty years. He has taught scoresof people the basic soil conservation methods. He is the man tobe credited for turning the area around Tarus (just a fewkilometers outside of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara) into that city's
"salad bowl." He has recently rehabilitated an unused Mennonite built training center there. Thirty-three young people from Alorand Sawu have just completed his three month course. Itja is now providing guidance and technical assistance to his former trainees and is completing the rehabilitation of the Tarus Training Center. At this center, he is helping to establish a pig, chicken andcattle operation. In addition, the Center is building a newdormitory in order to accommodate four month training programs once a year.