Optimizing the Sea Toll Road, Merauke Markets Thousands of Tons of Rice Every Month

The Merauke Regency Government, Papua, utilizes the sea highway program to optimally market its superior commodities. Merauke ships thousands of tons of rice for every sea toll vessel visit to a number of areas in Papua and other provinces in Indonesia.

Head of Trade at the Merauke Department of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, Tetes Gunanto, when contacted on Monday (14/3/2022), said Merauke had started to actively market rice using the sea highway for the past two years. The rice shipped is of medium type with a selling value of Rp 10,859 per kilogram.

As for the sea toll route to market Merauke rice through a number of areas in Papua, including Mimika, Biak, and Jayapura. Within a month, there are three sea toll ships entering Merauke. “In addition to a number of areas in Papua, Merauke rice has also been marketed to East Nusa Tenggara. According to the plan, we will also market Merauke rice to Maluku," said Tetes.

Meanwhile, through routes outside the sea toll road, Merauke rice is also marketed to a number of areas in southern Papua, such as Mappi, Boven Digoel, and Asmat. Bulog also supplies rice from Merauke to a number of areas in Papua and West Papua.

Rice harvest in Merauke Regency, Papua, in mid-March 2020.
PAPUA PROVINCE OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD OFFICE
Rice harvest in Merauke Regency, Papua, in mid-March 2020.

Tetes said, Merauke has been able to market rice to a number of regions because it has reached a surplus in production of these basic commodities. Based on data from the Food Crops, Horticulture and Plantation Service of Merauke Regency, until the end of 2021, the amount of land planted with rice will reach 64,000 hectares per year. This area can produce about 300,000 tons of dry grain from two harvest periods.

Around 300,000 tons of dry unhulled rice produce 154,000 tons of rice per year, while the total demand for rice in Merauke in a year reaches 25,000 tons. This leaves Merauke with a rice surplus of nearly 130,000 tons every year.

Also read: Agricultural Production in Papua Claims to be Undisturbed by Covid-19

“The amount of Merauke rice marketed to other regions has only reached a maximum of 60 percent. We hope that there will be an additional 40 containers for sea toll shipping. Currently we only get a maximum of 20 containers,” said Tetes.
 
The Head of the Merauke Regency Food Crops, Horticulture and Plantation Service, Ratna Laoce added, the sea toll road is very useful for marketing surplus rice production in Merauke. A total of 27,837 farmers are currently growing rice in Merauke.

He also stated that the Merauke Regency Government always synergizes with a number of parties for mentoring and training activities for farmers who cultivate rice. The goal is for rice production to continue to increase and of good quality.

One of them is what PT Pelni did, which brought a number of representatives of farmers from Merauke to participate in a comparative study on agricultural production in Sragen Regency, Central Java, last Friday (11/3/2022). This activity is expected to motivate farmers so that they can take advantage of the return cargo of sea toll ships to market superior agricultural commodities from Merauke.

The two regions can market their superior commodities by utilizing sea toll transport ships that stop in our area.

This activity was also appreciated by the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi who was also present in Sragen. "This is a synergy effort for all of us. In addition to providing hands-on training to increase agricultural production, this program is also to support the marine highway program," said Budi.

Meanwhile, Jayapura Regent Matius Awoitau said his area is also one of the sea toll routes in Papua besides Merauke. However, continued Matthew, the number of transportation from Jayapura Regency is not optimal due to the lack of superior commodity production.

Ship passengers arrive at Sorong Harbor, Sorong City, West Papua, Monday (7/6/2021). Sorong Port is one of the main destinations for sea highways in the Papua region.
COMPASS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO
Ship passengers arrive at Sorong Harbor, Sorong City, West Papua, Monday (7/6/2021). Sorong Port is one of the main destinations for sea highways in the Papua region.

Jayapura Regency uses the sea toll road to send ironwood and chipping or split stones. However, the number of shipments of the two commodities was still below 10 containers. "We hope that the Papua Provincial Government coordinates with areas close to Jayapura Regency, such as Sarmi and Keerom. The two regions can market their superior commodities by utilizing sea toll transport ships that stop in our area," said Matthew.

Head of the Industry, Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Manpower Office of Papua Province, Laduani Ladamay, admitted that only Merauke could utilize the sea toll road to optimally market its superior commodities. This is because Merauke is able to consistently produce large quantities of rice.

“Sea toll ships pass through the areas of Merauke, Mimika, Biak, to Jayapura. Other regions have not been able to take advantage of the sea toll road, such as Merauke, because they have not yet reached a surplus of their superior commodity production," said Laduani.

SOURCE: https://www.kompas.id/baca/nusantara/2022/03/14/optimalkan-tol-laut-merauke-pasarkan-ribuan-ton-rice-per-month