Transmigration Ministry deploys Patriot Expedition Team for research in Manokwari

Manokwari (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Transmigration has dispatched a 20-member Patriot Expedition team from Airlangga University in Surabaya to conduct research, studies and mentoring over four months for residents of transmigration areas in Manokwari Regency, West Papua.

Deputy Regent of Manokwari Mugiyono said in Manokwari on Monday that the Patriot Expedition forms part of the central government’s effort to support the development of transmigration areas based on scientific knowledge so that they become increasingly advanced and self-reliant.

“We hope this activity produces a map of regional potential and policy recommendations to be used when drawing up development programmes going forward,” Mugiyono said.

Mugiyono said the Ministry of Transmigration has currently set five national development priority programmes: Trans Tuntas, Local Transmigration and Patriot Transmigration, complemented by Trans Karya Nusantara and Trans Gotong Royong.

The involvement of the Patriot Expedition team is considered capable of improving the ability of communities in transmigration areas to optimise the management of local potential, enabling them to grow into new economic centres in a sustainable and equitable manner.

“The locations for the 2026 Patriot Expedition are in the transmigration areas of the Prafi, Masni, Sidey and North Manokwari districts,” he said.

According to him, the designation of these five districts by the central government was not without reason, but was based on data on natural resource potential that has yet to be optimally managed, whether in the agriculture, plantation, livestock, fisheries or other sectors.

Developing this potential requires a scientific approach, the use of technology and improvements to human resources in transmigration areas through regular mentoring and training, so as to produce derivative products of high economic value.

“This includes expanding the marketing networks for the products generated,” Mugiyono said.

Prof Hery Purnomobasuki, a representative of the Airlangga University Patriot Expedition team, said the team had studied the results of the 2025 expedition by a team from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) as part of efforts to identify new potential to be developed.

The team of roughly 100 people, comprising academics, alumni and students, is committed to optimising the four-month expedition period starting in August so as to bring real change to local communities.

“This year the majority of the Airlangga University team are alumni. Many professors are involved in the expedition in Manokwari,” he said.