YPMAK Forms Muare Village Working Group to Empower Community

The Amungme and Kamoro Community Empowerment Foundation (YPMAK), which manages the partnership funds of PT Freeport Indonesia, has formed a Working Group (Pokja) in Muare Village, Mimika Timur District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, to empower the local community. Muare Village Head Benyamin Kaokayahe stated on Friday that the Pokja is encouraging community economic development through banana plantations, involving local residents. “What the community wants to develop is the economy, specifically plantations. The people want to plant bananas,” he said. The land prepared for the banana plantation, by agreement, is located between Pigapu Village and Pomako Village, before reaching Lopong. He confirmed the banana garden to be cultivated is a new plot. “The available land area is 300-400 square metres. It can reach as far as the Wania River,” Benyamin said. He noted that YPMAK’s presence through the Village Pokja Programme greatly supports community economic development. In the previous year, the programme also developed coconut plantations. Muare Village, which consists of five neighbourhood units, has 348 families with a total population of 1,050 people. “The banana seedlings will be prepared by the community and brought to be planted on the prepared land, with implementation after the funds from YPMAK are disbursed,” said Yairus. The residents of Muare Village generally work as sago harvesters, farmers, fishermen, and crab catchers. YPMAK Economic Division staff member Dwi Iksan Kanang explained that the Village Pokja Programme aims to create job opportunities for the community while increasing household incomes at the village level through mutually agreed programmes. “I hope that when the budget is disbursed and the programme has been completed, an accountability report will be made immediately. This is important to avoid losing documentation and to facilitate the next budget disbursement,” he said. He reminded all Pokja administrators to utilise the budget optimally according to the work programme agreed upon between the administrators and the community.