JAYAPURA - The head of the Papua Agriculture and Food Service, Semuel Siriwa, recommended Lanny Jaya residents to change the planting period of sweet potatoes in the local area, in order to anticipate the threat of frost that occurs periodically.

"For example, if this phenomena occurs in July and August, then the sweet potato planting period must be advanced so that it can be harvested before July for food security".

"I think the local people are already very smart and know how to cultivate sweet potatoes. It is only possible that there is a lack of massive anticipation to prepare for the availability of this commodity in the face of the frost," explained Siriwa in Jayapura, Tuesday (2/8/2022).

According to him, who had studied at the Faculty of Agriculture at one of the well-known universities that conducted studies in Lanny Jaya.

The natural phenomena of frost actually occurs at a certain period and can only be overcome by the cultivation of sweet potatoes, the plant is considered to have adapted well in the region.

On the other hand, the local people also better understand how to store sweet potatoes in the soil, so that they can be harvested gradually.

"However, Rice for Poor Households (Raskin) also changed the consumption patterns of the local people, so we must continue to maintain local food," he concluded.

Previously, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Papua Province said that there were three villages in Lanny Jaya, namely Kuyawage Village, Lauren Village and Jugu Nomba Village which had been affected by the frost phenomenon since early June 2022.

This condition put 269 people in a food crisis, in which 56 sweet potato and vegetable plantations in Lauren and Jugu Nomba villages were damaged. ***