WEST PAPUA – By carrying out national programs and supporting local food security, the Acting Governor of West Papua, Drs. Ali Baham Temongmere, MTP accompanied by the Regent of Kaimana Regency launched corn planting, symbolically on a one-hectare area located on Batu Putih Street, Krooy District. The synergy that has been carried out will be implemented as a whole covering all districts in West Papua, encouraging community participation to increase food production independently in 2024.
Pj. Governor Ali Baham, the same direction was also presented during a coordination meeting with the Minister of Home Affairs regarding regional inflation. Corn is one of the contributing commodities, apart from onions and others.
“The direction of food diversification, non-rice is corn so this movement must not stop. After this, we will synergize our target steps again. In any condition, the community must be ensured to be healthy, safe, disease-free, related to eating, they must not starve,” he said.
He also recalled the five (5) B motto to be guided among Proud to plant, proud to sell, proud to buy, proud to cook and proud to eat. All parties are asked to utilize the yard by growing crops to anticipate the food crisis.
Furthermore, each OPD must pay attention to the regional budget (APBD) which focuses according to central instructions to be carried out in the regions.
“Don’t just plant and then other people eat, this is connected to production, distribution and markets. We can control it so that stability occurs. Farmer groups are invited and later each of them will have a garden,” he explained.
The Regent of Kaimana Regency, Fredy Thie, welcomed the attention of the West Papua provincial government with the direct presence of the Pj. Governor during the declaration. According to him, what is currently being initiated is a trigger for the development of local food potential to be encouraged. In addition, seed assistance was also handed over to nine farmer groups.
“We are very happy with this planting program activity, not only corn but wisdom and love for local products. Stimulate all OPDs and the community so that the yard let us plant vegetables and others. Change is very influential in all sectors,” he added.