Papua Governor Emphasises Rice Field Expansion Must Deliver Tangible Benefits

Jayapura (ANTARA) - Papua Governor Matius D. Fakhiri has emphasised that the success of the 2026 rice field construction programme should not only be measured by the completion of land clearing, but must provide tangible benefits to the community, particularly local farmers.

“The rice field expansion programme holds strategic significance and must not be viewed merely as an effort to increase the total area of paddy fields,” he said during the opening of the Coordination Meeting for the Evaluation and Addendum of the 2026 Rice Field Construction across Papua in Jayapura City on Saturday.

According to Fakhiri, this programme is a vital part of the efforts to build food security and food self-sufficiency in Papua.