Rice Planting Begins in Wanam, WIKA Infrastructure Supports New Food Hub in South Papua

Wanam (ANTARA) - PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk (WIKA) continues to support the development of the National Food, Energy, and Water Self-Sufficiency Area (KSPEAN) in Wanam, Merauke Regency, South Papua. As rice planting begins in the area, the infrastructure being built by WIKA in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works serves as a crucial foundation for establishing a new food production centre in Indonesia. For the local community, the start of rice planting brings new hope. Until now, some residents have relied on rice supplies from outside the region. With the development of the agricultural area in Wanam, the community is expected to be able to meet its food needs independently while improving welfare through farming activities. To support the development of the area, WIKA is contributing to the construction of water resource infrastructure through the Wanam Flood Control Project Package 2, carried out jointly with the Ministry of Public Works. The infrastructure being built includes primary, secondary, and tertiary irrigation networks, water structures, drainage systems, and flood control measures that play a role in maintaining water availability for agricultural land and reducing the risk of inundation. WIKA Corporate Secretary Ngatemin stated that the successful start of rice planting in Wanam is a significant milestone demonstrating the strategic role of infrastructure in supporting national food security. ‘For WIKA, infrastructure development in Wanam is not just about building water channels or flood controls, but is part of an effort to lay the foundation for the growth of a productive agricultural area. Together with the Ministry of Public Works, WIKA is committed to supporting the provision of reliable water resource infrastructure so that agricultural activities in Wanam can run optimally. The commencement of rice planting is the first step towards achieving food independence in South Papua, while creating sustainable economic benefits for the surrounding community,’ Ngatemin said. In addition to water resource infrastructure, the government, through the Ministry of Public Works, is also strengthening regional connectivity by building the 138.5-kilometre Wanam–Muting road, the 206.2-kilometre Merauke–Kaliki–Nakias–Bade corridor, and the 11.93-kilometre Wogikel–Wanam corridor. The presence of these road networks is expected to further facilitate the distribution of agricultural produce while opening up new economic access in the southern region of Papua. As of early July 2026, the progress of water resource infrastructure development in the Wanam area has reached 27.36 per cent, while road and connectivity construction has reached 22 per cent. All of this development is being prepared to support sustainable agricultural activities while strengthening the national food ecosystem. Through its integrated infrastructure support with the Ministry of Public Works, WIKA is committed to continuing to back the government’s strategic programmes in achieving food self-sufficiency. Reliable infrastructure is expected to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen national food security, and open up new economic growth opportunities for the people of South Papua.