Agriculture has become one of the main sectors to develop by the Indonesian government due to its potential. Such development will be in every province, including focusing on Papua corn commodity. The region is the center of agriculture in eastern Indonesia due to its vast land.
Papua is different from other provinces because it owns a very vast undeveloped area. Only about 33% of developed land is for agriculture in Papua, so there is more potential land to cultivate. The local government is responsible for cultivating the land to establish food stability within the region.
Being a food self-sufficient region is important because Papua currently relies on other regions for food products. Thus, the Tambrauw region starts to make it happen while trying to overcome inflation as well.
The Potential Agriculture in Papua
Papua province has a high potential for agriculture due to its vast land to cultivate. In terms of corn farming, the Tambrauw region has approximately 4,155 hectares of area to cultivate in the Sitori Village, East Kebar District.
The Tambrauw Regency Agriculture Service’s head, Thomas Kofiaga, said they have the policy to lower inflation by farming corn.
He later said that corn farming started last October 2022, so they can harvest it in February 2023 with an estimated amount of 3 tons per hectare of land. However, they would only sell shelled corn due to the available market.
The buyer usually uses these shelled corn commodities to feed their animals. Thus, the government has to look for a wider corn commodity market to accommodate the harvest in the region.
The government needs to prepare anticipation because proper training, a better knowledge of farming, and the use of technology will skyrocket the harvest. Thus, looking for new partners and markets could be the alternative in order to accommodate the abundant harvests.
Government Role in Improving Agriculture
The government needs to cooperate with the local farmers and other organizations in order to improve agriculture in this province. Thus, there are some important roles to take and do so they can achieve the best outcome.
Here are things that government should do concerning developing corn farming in Papua, particularly in the Tambrauw Region:
1. Training the Farmers
Providing proper training for Papuan farmers is a must because it will help them learn new knowledge for better corn cultivation. Many farmers choose to implement their traditional methods, but many times hinder them from adapting to current conditions.
Such training will help them learn how to adapt to cultivate effectively. Thus, their harvest will also be abundant, and the region can achieve food stability.
2. Make Sure the Availability of New Agriculture Technology
Aside from the proper knowledge, agriculture technology is also crucial due to its ability to help farmers cultivate and process the harvest efficiently. Thus, their productivity will also improve. The Papua regional government needs to collaborate with farming equipment distributors and manufacturers for the best outcomes.
3. Improve the Infrastructure of Agriculture
The infrastructure of agriculture is also urgent due to the importance of supporting good cultivation and harvest. Better roads and irrigation systems are among the many infrastructures to improve in order to achieve the best results. With Papua’s development becoming the priority, there will be a solution for such a matter.
Conclusion
Developing agriculture in Papua is a must because this province still provides a vast undeveloped land. However, the government needs to train farmers, provide them with the proper technology and improve the agriculture infrastructure for the best result.
The farmers can earn more income if the harvest is abundant, so their welfare will also improve. Moreover, the abundant harvest will also help the region to be food self-sufficient for the benefit of the region.
However, the local government of Tambrauw implemented their strategic policy to lower inflation by maximizing its Papua corn commodity.
