Zulhas Urges Public Outreach to Accelerate Merauke Food Production Hub

Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, has emphasised the need to socialise the acceleration of the food, energy, and water production centre in Merauke Regency, Papua Selatan, to all levels of society. He stated that the outreach should involve the TNI/Polri, traditional leaders, and the general public to ensure the project’s success. Hasan explained that his team has conducted coordination meetings to gather aspirations and proposals from the local community and regional leadership forum. He also visited Kampung Wanam in the Ilwayab District of Merauke Regency to directly observe the progress of paddy field clearing and infrastructure development. The minister reported that development is advancing rapidly, with 1,200 hectares of the planned 10,000-hectare rice field already planted. Concurrently, construction of supporting infrastructure, including a 58-kilometre road and a port, is underway, and preparations for an airport are being made. The first harvest from the planted area is expected around September or October 2026. Zulhas expressed confidence that if the programme proceeds smoothly, Merauke will become a new centre of economic growth and bring greater prosperity to the region.