By Abdullahi Lukman
The Papua provincial government has distributed agricultural aid—including taro and paddy seeds—to four coastal districts in a bid to strengthen food security and support local farmers’ productivity and welfare.
Speaking in Jayapura on Sunday, Lunanka Daimboa, Head of the Papua Crop, Horticulture, and Food Office, said the assistance targets Biak Numfor, Waropen, Yapen Islands, and Supiori districts.
The package includes not only seeds but also farming tools such as fertilizers, herbicides, machetes, watering cans, mini chainsaws, and a rice power thresher.
Daimboa emphasized that the aid aims to help farmers improve the quality and quantity of their harvests for both consumption and sale.
In line with directives from the National Food Agency (Bapanas), the initiative promotes the use of diverse local food sources beyond sweet potatoes and sago, traditionally dominant in the region.
Daimboa said the program also supports the Free Nutritious Meals initiative being implemented in the four districts.