Merauke, South Papua — Papua once again marked an important history for national food security. The first harvest of the rice planting program covering an area of one million hectares in Wanam Village, Ilwayab District, Merauke Regency, was successfully held with an average of 2.8 tons per hectare, even though it was carried out without the support of modern agricultural technology.
The harvest that took place in May 2025 became a symbol of the initial success of the national strategic program in realizing food self-sufficiency and making Papua the rice granary of the future of Indonesia. The harvest location at the eastern end of Indonesia is also a real representation that the potential of Papua’s land and human resources are able to support the great mission of national food sovereignty.
President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto expressed his high appreciation for the success of the harvest. He specifically highlighted the important role of Haji Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, or better known as Haji Isam, the national entrepreneur who owns the Jhonlin Group, who is said to have contributed greatly to the acceleration of agricultural land clearing.
With the support of around 2,000 excavator units brought in from China, the land clearing process can be carried out quickly and efficiently, without waiting for years like previous similar projects.
Executive Director of Citra Komunikasi LSI Denny JA, Toto Izul Fatah, called this success as a concrete example of the private sector’s contribution to the future of the nation. He praised Haji Isam as a nationalist businessman figure who prioritizes the interests of the people over just business profits.
“This is an example of an entrepreneur who really cares about the future of the nation and the welfare of the people,” said Toto.
More than just a harvest, this success also has a direct economic impact on the Papuan people, especially with the creation of new jobs and a stronger local economic turnaround.
With this encouraging early harvest, the government is optimistic that this program will strengthen the national rice stock and become an important milestone in reducing dependence on food imports.
This government’s bold move is expected to be an inspiration for other regions, as well as confirming that Papua is a vital part of Indonesia’s food future.
