The Sea Toll Road is the Key to Successful Rice Distribution in Papua

The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) revealed that the Sea Toll service on the T-19 route across Papua was the key to the successful absorption and distribution of rice.

"On this 6th voyage, the T-19 Sea Toll Transport will transport 56 containers containing the superior commodity of rice from Merauke Regency," said Head of Jayapura Class II KSOP Taher Laitupa.

Taher said that since the T-19 route was launched by the Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Sea Transportation earlier this year, it has successfully answered the problem of distributing rice in Papua - West Papua. The 6th voyage payload is the largest during the existence of the Sea Highway with the T-19 Route.

In addition, the route has also succeeded in answering the problem of the non-absorption of Merauke rice due to the high cost of sea transportation transportation. On the 6th voyage, KM Logistik Nusantara 2 has transported 56 containers of rice from Merauke after previously on the 5th voyage carrying 19 containers of superior commodities.

Taher said that since the T-19 route was introduced, the flow of logistics distribution, especially rice to all regions in Papua and West Papua, has become more efficient. The reason is that the route is no longer to the Java region, but specifically only in Papua - West Papua.

As for the T-19 route, originating in Merauke, the route includes Merauke - Kokas - Sorong - Korido - Depapre (Jayapura) - Sorong - Merauke and is served by the KM Logistik Nusantara 2 ship which began operating earlier this year.

"From the 56 containers of rice, 24 containers of rice were sent to Jayapura Regency through the Depapre Port and arrived on June 9, 2021," he said.

Taher added that the sea highway service for the T-19 route has increased every voyage and on this 6th voyage the increase is very significant. A total of 56 containers containing the main commodity of Merauke Regency, namely rice, are transported and distributed to the Papua and West Papua regions, one of which is to the Depapre Port for distribution to Jayapura Regency.

"Because the Depapre Port is a supporter for logistics distribution lines in the hinterland area which includes 14 districts in Papua Province," said Taher.

Meanwhile, Head of Sea Transportation Traffic, Willem Thobias Fofid revealed that the significant increase in the T-19 Sea Toll Road was the result of the cooperation and synergy of relevant stakeholders.

"The Merauke Regency and Jayapura Regency Governments, the ALFI/ILFA Transportation Management Association as well as a form of concern from local entrepreneurs as Shippers and Consignees who continue to collaborate with BUMN, in this case is Perum Bulog, where Bulog Merauke collaborates with farmer alliances to be able to distribute leading commodity to all districts in Papua and West Papua," said Willem.

The presence of the T-19 Sea Toll Road is considered to have enlivened the trade route in southern Papua, and increased regional economic growth and helped reduce price disparities in the Disadvantaged, Outermost, Frontier, and Border Regions (3TP).

Furthermore, the Head of the Jayapura Regency Transportation Service, Alfons Awaitouw at the Depapre Port, explained that as for the leading commodities transported by the T-19 Sea Toll as a return cargo to Merauke in the form of Ciping Stone, Abu Batu, and Sand from the Depapre Port, Jayapura Regency continued to experience an increase in the level of demand in Merauke. Merauke Regency.

SOURCE : https://economy.okezone.com/read/2021/06/14/320/2424743/tol-laut-jadi-key-hasil-distribution-rice-di-papua