The Salor Transmigration Area in South Papua has potential for\nlarge-scale agricultural development, particularly for rice, according\nto researchers from the China National Rice Research Institute\n(CNRRI).<\/p>\n
INFO TEMPO The Ministry of Transmigration received input from the\nCNRRI team regarding their observations on the agricultural potential of\nthe Salor Transmigration Area in South Papua. The inputs were presented\nin an audience with the Minister of Transmigration, M. Iftitah Sulaiman\nSuryanagara, in Sentul, Bogor, West Java, on Thursday, 5 March 2026.<\/p>\n
Minister Iftitah said the government welcomes the various\nrecommendations put forward by the Chinese researchers. He stated that\nthe observations will serve as material for follow-up to strengthen the\ndevelopment of transmigration areas based on modern agriculture.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe accept all inputs presented by the CNRRI team. We will follow up\nfurther. I will also speak with the Chinese Ambassador about future\ndevelopment. What is certain is that we are preparing the land, we are\npreparing the labour, and the Chinese government will assist in terms of\nfinancing and also in terms of technology,\u201d said Minister Iftitah.<\/p>\n
In their presentation, the CNRRI researchers stated that the Salor\nTransmigration Area has great potential for large-scale agricultural\ndevelopment, particularly for the rice commodity. The size of the land\nand the area\u2019s conditions are deemed supportive of producing food with a\nfocus on increasing yields and cultivation efficiency.<\/p>\n
CNRRI researcher Zhonghua Sheng explained that Papua has very\nextensive land resources, which makes it a candidate for a centre of new\nagricultural development. He also noted that the activity of Chinese\ncommunities in Papua could serve as a bridge to strengthen investment\ncooperation in the agricultural sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see in Papua vast land, and vast potential. I also note there are\nChinese communities in Papua. They are building factories and doing\nbusiness there, so I am confident this could be an Indonesia\u2013China\ncollaboration. But policy support from the Government of Indonesia is\nneeded to invite Chinese companies to invest in Papua,\u201d said Zhonghua\nSheng.<\/p>\n
Although there is great potential, the CNRRI team also highlighted\nseveral important considerations. One of them is the need for robust\npolicy support to attract investment, particularly from international\nagricultural companies with technology and experience in large-scale\nfarming.<\/p>\n
Infrastructure aspects are also a concern. Papua\u2019s distance from the\neconomic hub on Java keeps logistics costs relatively high, so more\nefficient distribution strategies are required.<\/p>\n
The CNRRI team also emphasised the importance of improving\npost-harvest technology, such as rice-drying facilities and equipment\nfor processing agricultural produce, to optimise production. Moreover,\nZhonghua Sheng noted that Chinese manufacturers of agricultural\nequipment are interested in exploring cooperation with South Papua.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been in touch with one company that previously collaborated\nwith a firm in Surabaya. They are a producer of agricultural equipment.\nThey are very keen to cooperate with South Papua,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In response to logistics cost challenges, Minister Iftitah assessed\nthat distribution of production does not necessarily have to be directed\nto Java. He suggested that harvests from South Papua could be marketed\nto nearby Pacific-region countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cProduction should not necessarily go to Java; it could go to Papua\nNew Guinea, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific\nregion\u2014that is what we need from the Chinese government,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government, according to Iftitah, is committed to\nstrengthening international cooperation to promote modern agriculture in\ntransmigration areas, including with China, which has long experience in\nthe development of rice technology.<\/p>\n
Zhonghua Sheng added that they would report the visit\u2019s outcomes to\ntheir leaders in China and inform interested companies about the\nagricultural potential in Papua. CNRRI also offers capacity-building\nopportunities through technical visits and short-term training\nprogrammes in China.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have already reported to my boss and obtained permission to invite\nIndonesian technicians to visit China to observe developments in Chinese\nagriculture and participate in short-term courses there,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
CNRRI itself is a national research institution in China focusing on\nrice research, from breeding superior varieties to cultivation\ntechnologies and improving productivity and rice quality. The\ninstitution\u2019s mission is to develop innovations in rice science and\ntechnology to support food security and the sustainable advancement of\nthe rice industry globally.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cnrri-researchers-say-salor-transmigration-area-in-south-papua-has-potential-to-become-a-rice-hub-1772791385", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }