KSP encourages Yahukimo to become a food center in mountainous Papua

The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) encourages various efforts so that Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains Province can become a center for food security in the provinces and eastern regions of Indonesia.

"Not only as a strategic gateway to the Central Highlands of Papua from the southern region of Papua, Yahukimo also has the potential to support Papua's regional and even national food security, due to the availability of extensive agricultural land," said Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko in a written statement after meeting with the Regent Yahukimo. Didimus Yahuli at the Bina Graha Building, Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday.
 
Because geographically, he said, Yahukimo Regency is still isolated and access to connecting roads is still very limited, so food security must be strengthened first, while waiting for the road access construction process to be completed.

The government of Yahukimo Regency has prepared 200 hectares of agricultural land with water sources for irrigation. This agricultural land is not only prepared for rice production, but also for other commodities that have high economic value.

Nevertheless, Moeldoko admits that in order to achieve food security in Yahukimo, synergy efforts are needed from all parties.

“Moving the food security program in Yahukimo is not easy, considering that in 2009, Yahukimo was hit by a famine. In fact, Yahukimo has tremendous potential to become a food center. So, there needs to be encouragement from all parties," said Moeldoko.

Meanwhile, the Yahukimo Government also hopes that the central government will help local governments to build infrastructure connecting roads between Yahukimo to Wamena and Yahukimo to Jayawijaya.
 
Yahukimo Regent Didimus Yahuli hopes that the government will immediately open an access road from Yahukimo to the Pepera port center to facilitate distribution and transportation routes to and from Yahukimo.

“Yahukimo is very strategic, has an area of 17,152 square kilometers with a population of 350,880 people. Now that the mountainous Papua region has been brought closer, the opening of roads and access to and from Yahukimo can support the progress of mountainous Papua," said Didimus.

SOURCE : https://www.antaranews.com/berita/3046689/ksp-push-yahukimo-jadi-sentra-pangan-di-papua-pegunungan