By: Dhita Karuniawati )*
The Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka government continues to improve national development through the Asta Cita Program in order to realize economic equality, especially in the Papua region. As part of the implementation of the Asta Cita Program in the field of food security, President Prabowo’s government considers the existence of food barns necessary because the area of rice fields in various regions continues to shrink every year. Therefore, the government is focusing on Merauke Regency, South Papua as one of the areas to realize the national food barn program or food estate.
The government is currently continuing to accelerate food self-sufficiency with a land optimization program and rice field creation of up to 3 million hectares. Specifically in South Papua, the government has completed the optimization of 40 thousand hectares of land in Kurik District and rice field creation in Wanam Village, Ilwqyab District, Merauke Regency. The rice field printing for agricultural land is targeted to reach 1 million hectares in Merauke by 2029.
As the easternmost region of Indonesia, Merauke has great potential to become a center for food production, especially rice, which is expected to meet domestic and even export needs.
Modern agriculture in Merauke is being developed in stages, by adopting agricultural technology such as superior varieties, soil and weather sensors, land monitoring drones, and automatic irrigation systems, so that farmers can increase and optimize their harvests.
Based on the Agricultural Instrument Standardization Agency (BSIP) papua.bsip.pertanian.go.id page from the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan), Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Amran Sulaiman is targeting the food estate area to be able to meet national rice needs in the next two years. In addition to increasing rice production, the Merauke food estate will also function as an energy provider through sugarcane and bioethanol plantation development projects.
On January 10, 2025, Amran budgeted up to IDR 10 trillion for agricultural equipment and machinery (Alsintan) assistance that will be distributed to farmers this year. The government provides Alsintan support to overcome limited human resources and make agricultural mechanization an effective solution.
Amran is optimistic that agricultural production can increase by 100 percent and production costs can be reduced by half. Most recently, his party showcased the results of the food estate program in Merauke, South Papua, which has harvested 40 thousand tons of rice. That was previously idle land that we are re-optimizing. The construction of a food barn in Merauke could be a strategic initiative that can strengthen food security in eastern Indonesia.
The Food Barn Program, which focuses on optimizing idle land in Merauke Regency, has received a positive response from various parties. The General Chairperson of the DPP Pemuda Saireri Papua, Gifli Buinei, expressed his appreciation to President Prabowo Subianto who has designated Merauke Regency as a national food barn area.
According to Gifli, the determination of Merauke Regency as a national food barn was due to several factors. First, the vast agricultural areas or land in Merauke. Then, the land of Merauke is fertile and has a good climate. Therefore, the determination of Merauke Regency as a national food barn is the right step that has been taken by President Prabowo Subianto.
Gifli said, as a young man, he hopes that Merauke Regency will be designated as a national food barn area. This is a good step that can then have an impact on the local community and Papua in general.
The food barn program in Merauke cannot run well if it does not get support from the Papuan people and the younger generation. Therefore, the national food security program must get support from the younger generation and the community.
Gifli invited everyone to participate in supporting and overseeing the program so that the impact of the food barn program can change the economy of the Papuan people for the better. In addition, the Papuan people also have good food security.
As a young generation of Papua, Gifli hopes that the process of realizing the national food barn program must involve the Papuan people. Papuan society should not only be spectators but must also play an active role in making the program a success, so that the food barn program in Merauke can be realized properly and have a significant impact on the Papuan people.
Various parties fully support the commitment of President Prabowo’s government in the Asta Cita program to realize economic equality in Papua. They believe that the program is a strategic step to increase community economic empowerment, equitable infrastructure development, and strengthening productive sectors that can increase regional income. Economic equality including the food barn program in Merauke requires strong synergy between the regional government, TNI, Polri, and other stakeholders so that the benefits can be felt by the entire community comprehensively.
The government’s efforts to improve the Papuan economy through food security are strategic steps that need to be continuously monitored and supported by various parties. With the right approach, such as infrastructure development, farmer training, and financing support, Papua has great potential to achieve sustainable food security. All forms of challenges must be overcome through cooperation between the government, community, and private sector so that food security in Papua can truly become the main pillar in the economic development of the region.
*) The author is a Contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute
