Minister committed to develop Papua's agriculture via local potential

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman reaffirmed the government's commitment to developing Papua's agricultural sector by harnessing local resources and empowering young people as drivers of economic growth, while taking into account the region's cultural diversity, geographical characteristics, and community needs.

"I come from the highlands of South Sulawesi, and I have many brothers and sisters in Papua. Why did I invite you to my home? Because you are meeting your own brother, your own family. I am not only your minister, but also your elder brother. We will build Papua together," Amran said in Jakarta on Thursday.

He made the remarks while hosting and holding discussions with 150 university students from various parts of Papua at his private residence in Jakarta.

Amran encouraged the students to take an active role in advancing Papua's development through agricultural programs tailored to the region's local resources, cultural values, and the needs of its communities.

According to the minister, Papuan students have a strategic role to play in driving economic development in their respective regions.

During the meeting, students representing Central Papua, Highland Papua, Southwest Papua, South Papua, and Papua provinces highlighted their regions' leading agricultural and natural resource commodities, including sweet potatoes, red fruit (Pandanus conoideus), peanuts, sago, coffee, cocoa, coconuts, as well as livestock and fisheries products.

Edron Tabuni, a student from Central Papua, said communities in the highland areas require greater support to develop local staple food commodities, particularly sweet potatoes, which have long served as the region's primary food source.

He said agricultural development programs in Papua should be designed in accordance with the unique geographical conditions and cultural traditions of local communities.

Responding to the proposal, Amran stressed that agricultural development in Papua must be based on the needs of local communities and the commodities that have already become an integral part of their livelihoods.

"If Central Papua and Highland Papua need support to develop sweet potato cultivation, then that is what we will support. Development must be based on the needs of local communities and on commodities that are already deeply rooted in people's lives," he said.

As part of the government's commitment, Amran announced the provision of agricultural equipment to support sweet potato cultivation in Central Papua and Highland Papua. The assistance will include farming equipment and other supporting tools tailored to local needs.

"We are all farmers. I understand that once people have the necessary equipment, they can immediately get to work. What we are building is the village economy and the local community's economy," he added.

Amran said the Ministry of Agriculture had previously invited governors, district heads, traditional leaders, farmers, and other stakeholders from across Papua to identify regional priorities for agriculture-based development.

Based on the assessment, the ministry has mapped Papua's key agricultural commodities, including nutmeg, sago, cocoa, coffee, corn, livestock, and the agricultural machinery required to support their development.

According to the minister, all of these programs are intended to benefit the people of Papua directly and contribute to improving public welfare.

For Amran, Papuan students represent one of the region's greatest human resources and should become the driving force behind economic development in their respective communities. He said land owned by local families should not be left idle.

He also encouraged students to begin developing agricultural businesses while they are still pursuing their studies.

The Ministry of Agriculture, he said, stands ready to support the development of leading commodities such as coffee, nutmeg, cocoa, coconuts, and other local food crops based on each region's comparative advantages.

"If you have land, start planting now. By the time you graduate, your plantation will already be producing. We want young Papuans to become successful agripreneurs. Their income could even surpass that of civil servants," he said.

Ronaldo Jakobinesta, a student from Southwest Papua studying at the Indonesian Christian University, welcomed the opportunity to engage in direct discussions with Amran.

He said the meeting provided an important platform for Papuan students to present the economic potential of their respective regions.

"The minister was very firm, humble, and quick to respond to every suggestion. Activities like this are extremely valuable because they allow us to directly present the strengths of our regions, from peanuts in Maybrat and coconuts in Tambrauw to the diverse varieties of sago in South Sorong," he said.

According to Ronaldo, dialogue forums of this kind are essential because each region in Papua has distinct characteristics and development potential.

Meanwhile, Edron Tabuni expressed gratitude that the aspirations of communities in Central Papua to develop sweet potatoes as their staple food had received the minister's direct attention.

"The minister responded very positively. He immediately approved agricultural equipment assistance to support sweet potato development in Central Papua and Highland Papua," he said.

Similarly, Onajige Balong, a youth representative from Highland Papua, said the meeting had broadened young Papuans' perspectives by demonstrating that their future does not have to depend solely on formal employment.

"I am very pleased because the minister made us realize that earning a good income does not necessarily mean becoming a civil servant. There is also money to be made from farming," he said.

According to Onajige, the minister's initiative to encourage young people to become agricultural entrepreneurs is a strategic step toward reducing unemployment and fostering economic self-reliance across Papua.

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Translator: Harianto, Azis Kurmala

Editor: Primayanti

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