Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Transmigration Minister Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara has welcomed China's proposal to set up a joint rice research center in Merauke, South Papua, to boost agricultural yields and support local transmigration areas.
The offer was conveyed by Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) President Huang Sanwen during a meeting with Suryanagara in Beijing, China, on Monday (Oct. 12), to explore agricultural technology opportunities tailored to local land characteristics.
"I agree with all of the proposals; we just need to finalize them. I fully support establishing a joint research and development center," the minister said in an official statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.
Suryanagara said the research partnership aligns with Indonesia's needs to boost food productivity while turning transmigration areas into new economic growth hubs.
According to him, developing agriculture requires more than just available land—it also demands superior seeds, cultivation technology, water management, farmer capacity building, and guaranteed market access.
In this regard, the minister expressed interest in studying hybrid rice technology and various Chinese agricultural innovations that could be adapted to Indonesia's land conditions and agricultural environment.
The potential collaboration may involve the Ministry of Transmigration, the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and Chinese agricultural research institutions.
He stressed that agricultural research in Merauke needs to provide direct benefits to the local communities, not only in terms of farmers' output but also in business efficiency and processing industry development.
According to him, the involvement of off-takers for farm produce is essential to provide market certainty for farmers, ensuring that gains in productivity translate into higher local incomes.
Earlier in June 2026, the Ministry of Transmigration and the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia explored plans to set up an agricultural research and vocational education center in the Salor transmigration area of Merauke.
The meeting with CAAS in Beijing follows up on this initial discussion, focusing on deepening cooperation in rice technology and expanding research capacity tailored to the region's needs.
The ministry expressed hope that inter-agency technical talks can begin promptly to build a clear implementation plan that yields tangible benefits for agricultural productivity, job creation, and farmer livelihoods.
Beyond setting up a research center, Huang Sanwen also offered opportunities to collaborate on digital technology for agriculture and food processing, as well as adopting scientific solutions to rural economic development.
Additionally, the Chinese side opened avenues for Indonesian researchers to pursue postgraduate education, participate in knowledge exchanges between research institutions, and enroll in short-term training programs to build their capacity.
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Translator: Aria Ananda, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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