National Strategic Projects Strengthen the Foundation of Food Self-Reliance and Welfare in Papua Highlands
Papua Highlands — The government continues to accelerate the implementation of National Strategic Projects (PSN) in Papua as part of its broader agenda to achieve equitable national development. In the Papua Highlands region, PSN in the food sector is regarded as a crucial pillar in strengthening the foundation of food self-reliance while sustainably improving the welfare of local communities.
PSN in the Papua Highlands is directed not only at reinforcing regional food security, but also at fostering the growth of local economies based on regional potential. Through the development of integrated agriculture, the government seeks to establish a food production system capable of meeting community needs while creating opportunities to increase residents’ incomes.
The Papua Highlands Provincial Government has ensured that the accelerated implementation of PSN proceeds as planned, including the opening of 800 hectares of rice fields in the Tulem area, Witawaya District, Jayawijaya Regency. This area is projected to become a new strategic food production center due to its proximity to the economic activity hub of Wamena City.
Deputy Governor of Papua Highlands Ones Pahabol assessed that the Tulem area and several other districts possess significant potential to be developed into productive agricultural zones integrated into PSN. According to him, Jayawijaya Regency as a whole is targeted to have around 2,000 hectares of rice fields spread across several districts as part of the national program. “We have directly observed the readiness of land clearing in Tulem and other areas. All of this development is designed to be included in PSN to strengthen food self-reliance in the Papua Highlands,” Ones Pahabol said in a statement received by the media.
Ones Pahabol emphasized that PSN in the food sector represents the government’s commitment to reviving the farming traditions of highland communities, which once made Wamena one of Papua’s rice-producing regions. He noted that around six decades ago, the area was known as a rice-producing region, and that spirit of food self-sufficiency needs to be revived. “The goal is for the Papua Highlands to have strong and sustainable rice stocks to meet the needs of its own people,” he said.
He also stressed that the implementation of PSN is carried out solely for the public interest and collective welfare. The government, he explained, utilizes land through a loan-use scheme strictly for public purposes, without any political motives.
Support for PSN was also expressed by the Head of the Papua Highlands Agriculture Office, Petrus Wenda. He assessed that PSN in the food sector serves as an important foundation for building regional self-reliance. “PSN provides budget certainty, technical assistance, and program sustainability. This is not a short-term project, but a long-term investment in the welfare of the Papua Highlands community,” he stated.
In addition to strengthening food security, PSN also generates multiple economic impacts. Land clearing, rice field management, and the distribution of agricultural products absorb local labor, including Papua’s younger generation. As such, PSN is expected to create an inclusive, self-reliant, and sustainable development ecosystem for the Papua Highlands.
