PAPUA, RAKYAT NEWS – President Prabowo Subianto made his inaugural work visit to Merauke Regency. He was accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, November 3, 2024,

This visit to Kampung Telagasari in the Kurik District underscores the government’s commitment to accelerating sustainable food self-sufficiency.

Merauke is projected as a key site for developing food production centers in eastern Indonesia, with the aim of meeting national food needs.

The government’s focus on this region highlights its strategic importance in the agricultural landscape of the country.

During his visit, President Prabowo praised the role of Papua’s youth in modern agriculture. He encouraged young people to lead innovation and adopt technology while respecting local ecological traditions. This emphasis on youth involvement is seen as vital for the future of agriculture in the region.

The President was warmly welcomed by thousands of local residents. The crowd included students, millennial farmers, food brigades, and agricultural extension workers, all eager to engage with the President and discuss agricultural issues.

Minister Amran highlighted Merauke’s significant potential as a food reserve through modern agricultural practices. He stressed the need for strategic programs to achieve food self-sufficiency as directed by President Prabowo.

“To achieve this goal, we will implement several key initiatives,” Minister Amran stated. These initiatives include creating 3 million hectares of rice fields over the next 3-4 years, improving irrigation systems, and optimizing land use.

The government has already made progress with the land optimization program, having completed the first phase covering 40,000 hectares in Merauke.

Currently, 35,000 hectares have been planted, with the remaining 5,000 hectares being prepared for cultivation.

“This program aims to increase the Planting Index (IP) to 300 and enhance food crop productivity,” he added. The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize agriculture in the region.

The next strategic step involves a phased approach to develop 1 million hectares of rice fields in Merauke. This will begin with a demonstration plot of 20 hectares in the Food Production Center area of Wanam District.

“This plot serves as a demonstration for farmers in Wanam to improve their productivity,” Minister Amran explained. This hands-on approach is designed to showcase effective farming techniques.

He emphasized that modernizing agriculture in Merauke is crucial for achieving food self-sufficiency. “Large-scale agriculture requires machinery like tractors, rice transplanters, water pumps, and combine harvesters,” he said.

As a tangible step, the government has provided significant agricultural equipment. This includes 65 two-wheel tractors, 113 four-wheel tractors, 76 rice transplanters, 638 water pumps, 20 combine harvesters, and 90 hand sprayers, all distributed to 214 food brigades.

“Food self-sufficiency not only aims to increase production but also to enhance farmers’ welfare and create new job opportunities for the people of Papua,” Minister Amran concluded, reinforcing the government’s commitment to agricultural development in the region. (Uki Ruknuddin)