President Jokowi Calls for Measures to Improve W. Papua’s Agricultural Productivity

INDUSTRY.co.id - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Monday (04/10) expressed optimism that the eastern Indonesian province of West Papua will become a major producer of agricultural commodities in eastern Indonesia.

“West Papua province has a great potential to become a major producer of agricultural commodities in eastern Indonesia. There are even thousand hectares of maize field and seven million hectares of field for food and horticultural crops,” President Jokowi said after inspecting Klamesen sub-district in Sorong regency, West Papua.

However, the President added, only 33 percent of the vast area of land that has been utilized. Therefore, the Head of State called on Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo and Governor of West Papua Dominggus Mandacan to improve more agricultural productivity in the province.

“(The measure) will improve productivity and change the planting systems from once a year to twice a year or thrice a year so that the dietary needs of the people in Papua can be fulfilled from the island itself,” the President said.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also urged millennial farmers to be given opportunities to be involved in improving agricultural sector.

“Millennial farmers have been trained by Ministry of Agriculture. How many of them, Sir [Minister of Agriculture]? Okay, 800 millennial farmers. We have set a target to train approximately 2,000 millennial farmers. I am certain if those people are given confidence, they will be able to build food security especially in West Papua province and later throughout Indonesia,” President added.

Furthermore, the President also underscored the important use of agricultural technology that aims to improve agricultural productivity, facilitate capital access, and improve capacity of human resources especially in West Papua province.