Indonesia Launches Major Rice Production Initiative in Papua

Expanding Rice Cultivation to Achieve Self-Sufficiency

The Indonesian government has announced plans to significantly boost rice production in Papua by developing 100,000 hectares of new rice fields across Papua, Papua Selatan, and Papua Barat ¹

. This ambitious project aims to increase annual rice production to 500,000 tons, bridging the current gap between Papua's rice production and consumption.

Currently, Papua produces 120,000 tons of rice annually but requires 660,000 tons, resulting in a significant shortfall that necessitates external supplies ¹

. The new initiative is expected to be completed within 2-3 years, with Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman expressing optimism that it could be achieved in 2 years with accelerated implementation ¹

Source 1

https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-8265124/pasokan-beras-di-papua-digenjot-hingga-500-ribu-ton-sawah-100-ribu-ha-dibuka

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Supporting National Food Security Programs

This rice production initiative aligns with the government's broader food security objectives, including the Program Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG). The National Food Agency (Badan Pangan Nasional) has projected that the MBG program will require 381,800 tons of rice in 2025 ²

. The planned increase in Papua's rice production will contribute to national food security by reducing the need for inter-regional rice transportation, which can help stabilize prices and mitigate inflation risks.

National Production Capacity and Food Security

Indonesia's national rice production is projected to reach 34.79 million tons in 2025, with an expected ending stock of 12.52 million tons, representing a 49.1% increase from the previous year's 8.4 million tons ²

. This robust national production capacity provides a solid foundation for supporting regional initiatives like the Papua rice production project while maintaining overall food security across the country.