Food Security in Papua: Challenges and Strategies Towards Self-Sufficiency

 

Papua, with its 421,981 km² area and abundant fertile land potential, should be the food barn of eastern Indonesia. However, food security in this region remains a serious challenge, amidst dependence on imports and vulnerability to climate change. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Papua Province, the national food security index for 2025 shows Papua ranked at the bottom, with a stunting rate of 28 percent among children. Nevertheless, the central government under President Prabowo Subianto has launched a series of initiatives, such as the 1 Million Hectare Rice Paddy Program and the distribution of Government Food Reserve (CPP) rice in 2025, to achieve self-sufficiency. This article examines the challenges of food security in Papua, the strategies implemented, and the promising future prospects, with the hope that this region will become a key pillar of Indonesia Emas 2045.

Food security encompasses the availability, access, utilization, and stability of food for the entire population. In Papua, which comprises six new provinces after the expansion of Papua, this situation is influenced by extreme geographic factors: rugged mountains, remote islands, and a humid tropical climate prone to flooding and drought. According to the World Food Programme (WFP) 2025 report, the main challenge is "hidden hunger," or malnutrition, among indigenous communities, where access to nutritious food is limited due to poor infrastructure and uneven distribution. In Merauke, for example, an ambitious food estate project has created a paradox: food commodity production has increased, but local food insecurity has worsened due to the displacement of indigenous communities. A June 2025 UN report highlighted that this project has displaced thousands of indigenous people, disrupting their traditional agricultural systems that rely on sago and cassava.

Another challenge is the impact of climate change and soaring fertilizer prices. A study by ResearchGate shows that extreme climates and a 50 percent increase in fertilizer costs since 2024 have weakened rice production in Papua, with corn harvests dropping by 15 percent in Central Papua. Furthermore, social conflict and separatism exacerbate the situation: access to agricultural land is hampered, while dependence on rice imports reaches 70 percent of annual needs. In Highland Papua, a 30 percent poverty rate makes food access a daily issue, with malnutrition contributing to malnutrition, as outlined in SDG Target 2.2. The dietary transition in West Papua, from local foods like sago to imported rice, has also led to nutritional instability, as discussed in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. In short, food security in Papua is not just about quantity, but also about quality and social equity.

However, the government is not standing still. The national strategy, through Prabowo's Asta Cita 2025-2029, prioritizes food security, with a focus on diversification and local empowerment. In July 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the distribution of CPP rice in Merauke, targeting 1,500 tons for four districts: Merauke, Mappi, Boven Digoel, and Asmat. This program is not just temporary assistance, but part of a self-sufficiency effort in eastern Indonesia, supported by 42.4 km of road infrastructure out of a target of 135 km. At the legislative level, the Regional Representative Council (DPD) of the Republic of Indonesia launched the "Senators Care About Food Security" movement in September 2025, targeting 5,000 hectares of new land in the eastern region, including Papua. This initiative includes planting corn seedlings in Central Papua, which is described as a "concrete step" in support of Prabowo's vision.

Community empowerment is a key strategy. The Papua Agricultural Modernization Implementation Center (BRMP) on October 6, 2025, handed over 500 cayenne pepper seedlings to the Maribu Women's Farmers Group (KWT) in Sentani as part of its family food support program. This initiative aims to build household resilience through local horticulture, reducing dependence on vegetable imports. The 2025 Rice Paddy Printing Program in Merauke, which creates fertile land with modern irrigation, is considered a strategic solution for the welfare of indigenous communities. Local communities expressed satisfaction with the program, which not only increases production but also involves residents in land management. The Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Kemenko Polkam) promoted national synergy in July 2025, emphasizing local Papuan wisdom such as the sustainable sago planting system.

Initial successes are evident in BPS data from August 2025: farmer welfare has improved, with a rising Farmer Exchange Rate (NTP) indicating a surplus in purchasing power and a greater contribution to national food security. In Merauke, accelerated rice paddy cultivation has opened up the potential for new food barns, with a projected 20 percent increase in rice production. Efforts in Central Papua Province, which extends the program to the entire eastern region, also show progress: the planting of corn seedlings by the Regional Representative Council (DPD) in September 2025 symbolized central-regional collaboration. Furthermore, social assistance (bansos) and skills training from the 2025 Special Autonomy Fund, such as the provision of farmed fish feed, are promoting economic independence in the fisheries sector, which contributes 15 percent of local protein needs.

However, this strategy must address environmental and social issues. The food estate project, while ambitious, has been criticized for agribusiness expansion that creates local food insecurity, as outlined in a ResearchGate study. The government is responding with a sustainable approach: GAIN's 2025 Food Security Vulnerability Assessment (FSVA) emphasizes transforming subnational vulnerability identification, focusing on local capacity. The WFP strategic plan 2026-2030 highlights strengthening regional capacity to address local challenges, including in Papua. In terms of diversification, the National Agricultural Development Planning 2025-2029 promotes strategic food reserves and diversification based on local wisdom, such as the development of sago as an alternative to rice.

The prospects for food security in Papua are bright if synergy is strengthened. With 10 million hectares of untapped land, Papua could contribute 10 percent of national rice production by 2030. Support for Prabowo's Asta Cita (Asta Cita), including agricultural industrialization, will accelerate this. However, the key to success is the inclusion of indigenous communities: dialogue with local leaders to ensure projects like food estates do not displace, but empower. As expressed in the recent X discussion, Papua's food barn must become a symbol of food sovereignty, not just resilience. Thus, Papua will no longer be a famine-prone area, but a pillar of national self-sufficiency.

Food security in Papua is a holistic struggle: combining modern technology with indigenous wisdom, infrastructure with empowerment. Amid global challenges like climate change, this 2025 strategy serves as a blueprint for the future. The government, the private sector, and communities must unite to ensure every Papuan—from the mountains to the coast—has access to nutritious food. As Indonesia heads towards 2045, Papua is poised to become a global food barn, provided we act now.