Wanam Food Estate Deemed a Long-Term Strategic Project for Food Security

Jakarta, VIVA – The construction of the food estate in Wanam, Merauke, South Papua, is considered highly important for realising national food security. Indonesian Politics Indicator Institute researcher Bawono Kumoro states that the Wanam food security project is a long-term strategic program in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s priority program.

“Of course it must continue. Do not let it stop when there are efforts from certain quarters trying to derail this program,” Bawono said on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

According to Bawono, the one-million-hectare paddy field project in South Papua holds significant value for the future of national food security. Therefore, he believes that various efforts deemed to hamper development should not affect the project’s continuity.

“Including the making of the film Pesta Babi,” he said.

He acknowledges the benefits of the food estate project may not be felt in the near term. However, in the long term, the project is believed to become a strategic foundation for Indonesia’s food security.

“Might in the short or medium term the fruits of this food security program are not yet clearly visible, but in the long term, in the future it will certainly have strategic value of the program. Therefore, it must be continued by the government,” said Bawono.

On the other hand, the Wanam PSN project is said to have shown significant progress. A number of main supporting facilities for the national food basket area are claimed to be almost completely finished.

The Wanam PSN itself is projected to become the national food reserve centre through the program to create one million hectares of new paddy fields. The area is also designed to become a new ecosystem that includes irrigation, a biodiesel industry, and the strengthening of connectivity and national defence.