{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 2054772,
        "msgid": "indonesia-accelerates-paddy-field-development-in-merauke-to-boost-productivity-1792947010",
        "date": "2026-10-25 22:49:18",
        "title": "Indonesia accelerates paddy field development in Merauke to boost productivity",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_EN",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Agriculture",
        "summary": "Deputy Agriculture Minister Muhammad Saleh Mustafa has called for an integrated approach to developing paddy fields in Merauke, with support for infrastructure, production inputs and farmer groups. South Papua\u2019s programme targets 45,993 hectares across 2025 and 2026, as the government seeks to raise productivity, advance food self-sufficiency and improve farmers\u2019 incomes through better market access and cooperatives.",
        "content": "<p>\u201cI will report to the agriculture minister to establish an integrated\nsolution for the paddy field development program, covering the entire\nprocess from upstream to downstream, to ensure its smooth\nimplementation,\u201d Deputy Agriculture Minister Muhammad Saleh Mustafa said\nin a statement on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Saleh inspected the rice field development project in Muram Sari\nVillage, Semangga Subdistrict, Merauke, on Saturday (October 24). During\nthe visit, he met with local farmer groups to hear firsthand about their\noperational needs, including road access and fertilizer supplies.<\/p>\n<p>Strengthening agricultural infrastructure, ensuring the availability\nof production inputs, and supporting farmer organizations are essential\nto optimizing newly opened farmland, increasing productivity, and\ndelivering tangible benefits to farmers.<\/p>\n<p>According to program data, the rice field development target in South\nPapua stands at 45,993 hectares, comprising 17,693 hectares in 2025 and\n28,300 hectares in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Saleh said Merauke had significant potential to become a national\nfood production hub. He stressed that agricultural development in the\nregion needed to be strengthened continuously through land optimization,\nproductivity improvements, and adequate support for farmers.<\/p>\n<p>He added that expanding rice fields was part of the government\u2019s\nefforts to achieve food self-sufficiency. However, land expansion must\nbe accompanied by higher productivity and measures to ensure that\nagricultural output generates tangible economic benefits for local\ncommunities.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond increasing production, Saleh emphasized the importance of\nimproving farmers\u2019 welfare by expanding market access and developing\ncooperatives.<\/p>\n<p>Farmers must receive support to ensure that their harvests generate\ndecent incomes and strengthen their bargaining power, reducing their\ndependence on exploitative lenders and intermediaries.<\/p>\n<p>Related news: Indonesia achieves rice self-sufficiency with 5\nmillion-ton surplus<\/p>\n<p>Related news: Indonesia extends rice aid to low-income households\nthrough December<\/p>\n<p>Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-accelerates-paddy-field-development-in-merauke-to-boost-productivity-1792947010",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}