Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is accelerating the development of new rice fields in Merauke, South Papua, by strengthening support for agricultural equipment, infrastructure, and farmer organizations to increase national food production.
“I will report to the agriculture minister to establish an integrated solution for the paddy field development program, covering the entire process from upstream to downstream, to ensure its smooth implementation,” Deputy Agriculture Minister Muhammad Saleh Mustafa said in a statement on Sunday.
Saleh inspected the rice field development project in Muram Sari Village, Semangga Subdistrict, Merauke, on Saturday (October 24). During the visit, he met with local farmer groups to hear firsthand about their operational needs, including road access and fertilizer supplies.
Strengthening agricultural infrastructure, ensuring the availability of production inputs, and supporting farmer organizations are essential to optimizing newly opened farmland, increasing productivity, and delivering tangible benefits to farmers.
According to program data, the rice field development target in South Papua stands at 45,993 hectares, comprising 17,693 hectares in 2025 and 28,300 hectares in 2026.
Saleh said Merauke had significant potential to become a national food production hub. He stressed that agricultural development in the region needed to be strengthened continuously through land optimization, productivity improvements, and adequate support for farmers.
He added that expanding rice fields was part of the government's efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency. However, land expansion must be accompanied by higher productivity and measures to ensure that agricultural output generates tangible economic benefits for local communities.
Beyond increasing production, Saleh emphasized the importance of improving farmers' welfare by expanding market access and developing cooperatives.
Farmers must receive support to ensure that their harvests generate decent incomes and strengthen their bargaining power, reducing their dependence on exploitative lenders and intermediaries.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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