Indonesia Turns Remote Papua Frontier into National Food Belt with Mechanized Rice Expansion

MERAUKE, LELEMUKU.COM – Indonesia's Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman inspected large-scale rice paddy development and planting operations alongside local farmers in Waninggap Kai Village, Semangga District, Merauke Regency, on Saturday (4/7/2026). During the working visit to South Papua Province, the central government affirmed that all ongoing land clearing and optimization programs are fully dedicated to improving the welfare of indigenous residents.

According to Ministry of Agriculture data, Papua has become one of Indonesia's priority food development zones. By 2026, the government has developed 83,030 hectares of new rice paddies and 54,399 hectares of land optimization across the entire Papua region. South Papua stands as the largest development hub, accounting for 48,934 hectares of new paddies and 53,499 hectares of optimized land, forming nearly 100,000 hectares of food production area.

Other provincial breakdowns include Papua Province with 24,248 hectares, Southwest Papua with 4,675 hectares, West Papua with 3,373 hectares, and Highland Papua with 2,000 hectares. Through this program, the planting index in Merauke Regency rose from 1.05 to between 1.82 and 2.00, directly driving surges in rice productivity, harvest area, and overall grain production.

The central government is also building a modern agricultural ecosystem in the region through provision of farm machinery, superior seeds, irrigation system improvements, food brigade formation, and intensive technical assistance. Technologies commonly deployed in advanced economies are now being adopted by local farmers to maximize their harvest yields.

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized that the program belongs entirely to the people and indigenous Papuan communities, stating that no party may claim to represent local residents in expressing opposition. Based on field evaluations, local community incomes have reportedly increased by up to 300 percent since the program began, with numerous requests now emerging for additional paddy field openings.

"Merauke farmers are now capable of operating modern agricultural equipment. Technologies used by advanced countries are now also being utilized in Papua to increase productivity and farmer welfare," he said.

South Papua Governor Apolo Safanpo stated that Merauke Regency has become the backbone of food development across the Papua region, managing more than half of the total national program target. Regional authorities expressed full readiness to support all strategic national projects in the food sector as part of implementing President Prabowo Subianto's Asta Cita agenda to achieve food security.

"We express our gratitude to the agriculture minister because this program provides enormous benefits for community economies. We are fully prepared to support South Papua becoming a food barn, and in the future even capable of becoming a rice exporter," he said. *(Evu)*