The Papua Provincial Government encourages the use of local food to prepare PON needs

The Papua Provincial Government (Pemprov) continues to encourage the empowerment and utilization of local food to prepare for the XX National Sports Week (PON) needs, which are only a few months away from its implementation on Cenderawasih Earth.

Head of the Papua Province Agriculture and Food Service, Semuel Siriwa, in Jayapura, Saturday, said that with all the limitations, his party still tried to run according to its capabilities and activity programs.

"Of course we keep going and for food security in Papua, local food is a priority," he said.

According to Siriwa, local food that can be used as a substitute for rice, for example taro, petatas, sago, sweet potato, cassava and so on, if it is related to local food, then his party also feels helped by the operation of the Depapre Sea Toll Road in Jayapura Regency.

"The reason is, rice that was initially difficult to distribute or took a long time to distribute, now has a solution," he said.

He explained that in terms of food, rice in Merauke Regency can be said to have a surplus of production, but before the sea highway was established it could only be distributed to the nearest areas.

"With this sea highway it is hoped that Merauke rice will be well distributed in the Papua region," he said.

He added that his party will also coordinate with other agencies so that excess production, especially food in one area, can be distributed evenly to other regions, either through sea tolls or others.

Previously, Bulog Papua stated that the amount of rice sent from Merauke was around 400 tons, where with this shipment of rice from Merauke, the total rice supply for Papua reached 2,200 tons because initially the stock in Bulog's warehouse was recorded at only 1,800 tons.

Source: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/1997661/pemprov-papua-dorong-pemanunjuk-pangan-lokal-siapan-kentuk-pon