Food Coordinating Minister: PSN Aims to Achieve Food Self-Sufficiency in Papua

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said the development of the National Strategic Project (PSN) in Merauke Regency, South Papua, is an effort to realise food self-sufficiency in the Land of Papua.

“The PSN in Merauke is expected to become a food production centre capable of meeting the needs of the people in Papua,” said Zulhas in Sentani, Papua, on Tuesday.

According to Zulhas, the development of the PSN area covers not only food production but also energy, with a target of developing around one million hectares of rice fields as well as B50 biodiesel-based energy.

“If the project goes according to plan, Papua will be able to meet its own needs for rice, fish and diesel, so these will no longer need to be brought in from other regions,” he said.

He explained that if food production in South Papua continues to increase, the region will not only be able to meet its own needs but also become a supplier for other areas in eastern Indonesia.

“If there is a food surplus, then in future Papua could meet the food needs of Maluku and other regions in eastern Indonesia,” he added.

He invited all communities in Papua to support the implementation of the PSN in Merauke Regency so that it can be completed quickly and food needs can be realised.