Developing Food Commodities in Papua Province

Thanks to an inactive website freewestpapua.co, we can learn about food commodities development in Papua province.

 

Papua Province is one of the regions that have a considerable diversity of biological resources, including local food crops.

Papuan local food sources that have the potential to be utilized as a source of carbohydrates are sweet potatoes, taro, sago, gembili, and millet. Local food has been widely used by the people of Papua. Communities domiciled in mountainous areas generally consume sweet potatoes, taro, and gembili, while those living on the beach use sago as a staple food. Some types of sweet potatoes, taro, and sago have adapted well and consumed by the people of Papua in decades. Thus, these commodities need to be developed as the main food source for the community. Besides being used as the main food source and for traditional ceremonies, local Papuan food commodities have also been developed into processed products such as cookies that are managed by a household industry scale.[1]

Minister of Agriculture, Amran, asserted that Indonesia’s future especially agriculture development is in the eastern region of West Papua. Because West Papua has a great agricultural potential to be excavated.

To achieve this, the effort made is to build the land of sleep so that available agricultural land on a large scale and prosperous farmers community. In addition, it is necessary to revive superior food commodities such as nutmeg, breadfruit, coffee, and corn to be exported.

Amran said that the Ministry of Agriculture will focus on increasing rice production in West Papua so that rice is no longer supplied from South Sulawesi, but can be fulfilled by itself. In 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture will make about 1900 ha of rice fields.

According to Amran, West Papua has great potential for developing of vegetable commodities such as carrots and cabbage so that their needs can be fulfilled or no longer supplied from other regions. West Papua also has excellent export-worthy commodities such as coconut, coffee, nutmeg, and cocoa. These commodities will be encouraged until they can be exported.

The Governor of West Papua, Dominggus Mandacan said the agricultural sector is very important to promote and prosper the community. West Papua government will prioritize the development of superior commodities until reach the export value. The leading commodities include nutmeg, coffee, vegetables (carrots, cabbage, potatoes), corn, coconut, cattle, breadfruit, and cocoa.[2]

[1] A. Wahid Rauf dan Martina Sri Lestari, Pemanfaatan Komoditas Pangan Lokal Sebagai Sumber Pangan Alternatif di Papua, diakses dari laman http://papuabarat.litbang.pertanian.go.id/index.php/publikasi/artikel/210-pemanfaatan-komoditas-pangan-lokal-sebagai-sumber-pangan-alternatif-di-papua pada 15/11/2017

[2] Dee Waluyo, Kementan Dorong Papua Barat Berdaulat Pangan, diakses dari laman https://jpp.go.id/ekonomi/pertanian/307558-kementan-dorong-papua-barat-berdaulat-pangan pada 15/11/2017

Keywords: West Papua, Papua, Food Commodities, local foods, agricultural, rice production, export commodities, Papuan food commodities, Papuans, local community.

By Sakhiyatun K

West Papua Special Autonomy

Copyright of the following article belongs to MACDIS’ freewestpapua.co 

The West Papua special autonomy is the law based on the West Papuan aspiration. The law contains the freedom for political party, protection to the West Papuan culture and Human Rights, and the establishment of West Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP)

In 2001, the Government of Indonesia has established the law of special autonomy to secure the rights of indigenous Papuan. This law proposal firstly introduced to the Government of Indonesia by the West Papuan intellectuals group from Cendrawasih University. The West Papuan intellectuals group proposed the law in order to suppress the deployment of the separatist movement and to bring the prosperity for the West Papuan itself.

The Papuans are enthusiastic because the law itself corresponding with their vision. It provides the freedom to form political parties; guarantee the protection of customary property and recognize the validity of customary law; ensure that 80% of the forest, fishery, 70% of oil and gas revenues, and mining revenues are provided to local authorities.

The law also contained the establishment of representative offices of the National Commission on Human Rights, Human Rights Court, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Papua. It was important to resolve and prevent cases of human rights violations in Papua. In addition, the primacy of employment was provided for indigenous Papuans as well.

The governor position, deputy governor, as well as the recruitment of local police and civilian bureaucracy, should give priority to indigenous peoples.

Special autonomy also enabled the formation of the West Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) as a cultural representation of indigenous Papuans, which has the authority, among other things, to give judgment and approval to the candidates for the governor, deputy governor, and members of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the representatives of Papua Province as well as giving them the right to give advice and approval of local regulations as well. Those authorities were there to protect the rights of indigenous Papuans. Special Autonomy pays attention to women’s rights as well. Article 19 Paragraph I stated that one-third of the membership of the Papua People’s Assembly (MRP) is women’s representatives. This opens opportunities for women to represent religious communities and indigenous peoples.

In short, this special autonomy policy has accommodated all the perceived injustices that Papuans feel while integrating with Indonesia. This policy was a form of Government of Indonesia’s appreciation of the rights of Papuans. In addition, Special Autonomy could increase West Papua’s revenue, so that sustainable development could be done to create prosperity for the people of Papua.

Keyword: West Papua, special autonomy, MRP, Indonesia, indigenous West Papua

By: Syani Zuraida, (Researcher, MaCDIS)