Inspirational Young Papuans are Expected to Continue to Advance Regional Agriculture

Farmers in Makwan Village, Masni District, Manokwari Regency, West Papua expressed their desire to continue to receive guidance from youth who are members of the Inspirational Young Papua (PMI). The farmers on behalf of the Sumber Makmur Jaya (SMJ) farmer group in Masni District believe that the guidance from PMI can bring progress to the agriculture they manage.

"We as a farmer group, we are fostered, guided by PMI. We hope that in the future we will continue to be guided, so that this group can move forward and prosper us Papuans who are here," said female farmer, Silla (58) in a written statement, Monday. (22/8/2022).

He conveyed this when PMI ranks and Deputy IV for Economic Intelligence at BIN, I Gde Made Kartikajaya inspected agricultural land managed by local farmers, Saturday (20/8). Present to accompany PMI management and I Gde Made Kartikajaya, including the Head of Agriculture Prov. West Papua Jacob Fonataba, Chair of the Sumber Makmur Jaya Solikin Group and Emy Tibiay, administrators of the Sumber Makmur Jaya Farmers Group.
 
Silla explained that agricultural products such as corn, which she manages very well, are hampered by pests such as rats and cows that enter the garden. Therefore, he hopes that the guidance from PMI can provide and facilitate the assistance of tools and anti-pest drugs to prevent this.
 
Yusuf Woof (62) said the same thing. The man admitted that the guidance from PMI had been felt by many farmers in his area.

"Inspirational Young Papua, we ask for your support so that we can keep this agricultural business going," he said.

Yusuf also said that his party is now faced with complaints of pests that disturb the People's Palm Oil Replanting (PSR) land that he manages. He added that currently his party is planting corn with an intercropping system so that the palm oil fields that are not yet in production can provide added value.
 
Yusuf hopes that in the future the PSR area can be developed again by planting other horticultural crops.

"We want to also grow other staple foods," he added.

Apart from pests, the PMI assisted farmers also complained about the difficulty of assistance. I Gde Made Kartikajaya responded to this aspiration by contacting the Director General of Horticulture of the Ministry of Agriculture Prihasto Setyanto by telephone and witnessed by the farmers.

As a result, the Ministry of Agriculture is committed to helping support and facilitating the PMI fostered farmers and will immediately send the seed assistance needed by the farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture also stated that it would coordinate with the West Papua Provincial Agriculture Office to immediately realize the assistance.

Hearing Prihasto's answer, the farmers applauded and thanked I Gde Kartikajaya directly.
 
It is known, from a total of 16 hectares of corn that have been cleared, the farmers have planted hybrid corn in an area of 6 hectares. Currently, the corn crop is about 90 days old and is expected to be ready for harvest in early September 2022.

In addition to planting corn, farmer groups also develop horticultural crops covering an area of 3 hectares with types of plants such as long beans, chilies, kale, tomatoes, pumpkins, eggplants and so on.

For information, the Sumber Makmur Jaya farmer group in Masni District, Manokwari Regency is a mixture of farmers from indigenous Papuans and farmers from transmigrants. This collaboration is proof that the farmers are committed to creating a prosperous society in Papua through the economy. Of course, the collaboration was formed thanks to the participation of all parties, including PMI.

SOURCE : https://news.detik.com/berita/d-6247369/papua-muda-inspiratif-diharap-terus-majukan-pertanian-region.