The Self-Sufficiency Acceleration Program For The Welfare Of The Papuan People

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reviewed food security in Papua (Special)

MERAUKE- Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) continues to accelerate self-sufficiency programs in Merauke Regency, South Papua. Among other things, by providing farmer assistance and streamlining mechanization as a traditional agricultural transformation towards modern agriculture.

This effort is in line with President Prabowo's great concern who wants South Papua to become Indonesia's food barn.

"He asked us to accelerate the idea of printing rice fields into an effort to realize self-sufficiency. And second, the President advised the government to pay attention to the welfare of the people there (Papua)," said the Minister of Agriculture after accompanying President Prabowo's inaugural visit, Sunday, November 3, 2024.

As a concrete step, Minister of Agriculture Amran said, the government is ready to build tertiary irrigation channels and provide free seeds to farmers who want to build modern agriculture throughout Indonesia, especially in Merauke Regency, South Papua.

"I make sure the government is present for the welfare of the community. The keyword is that the government is here for the welfare of the Papuan people and we are targeting the national self-sufficiency within 4 years," he said.

Until now, said the Minister of Agriculture, many people have asked for the development of agricultural land there as new rice fields that have high economic value.

What I heard was that people in several districts applied for immediate land processing because this program was considered to be able to improve their welfare. We have been here for 12 months and many people support it," he explained.

Previously, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, held his first working visit (Kunker) in Merauke Regency, South Papua. There, the President encouraged the acceleration of self-sufficiency to be carried out massively and sustainably, especially in the development of food production centers in Eastern Indonesia.