JAYAPURA — The Papua Provincial Government is preparing public outreach support as part of the implementation of the rice field expansion program in the region. This step is being taken to ensure the program runs smoothly, especially on land related to customary land rights.

Papua Governor Matius D. Fakhiri said the rice field expansion program is designed to provide direct benefits to the community, ranging from land use to production results.

"This creates an economic cycle that is directly felt by the people, from the people and for the people," Fakhiri said in Jayapura on Tuesday (April 21, 2026).

According to him, community involvement from the beginning is key so that the program can be accepted and implemented without obstacles in the field.

Meanwhile, Director General of Agricultural Land and Irrigation at the Ministry of Agriculture, Hermanto, emphasized the importance of the regional government's role in approaching the community.

"We hope for the regional government's support in socializing the program to the public, so that implementation in the field will not encounter obstacles," he said.

He explained that the stages of survey, identification, and design (SID) cover not only technical aspects, but also the social readiness of the community.

The Papua Provincial Government hopes that collaboration between the central government, regional government, and the community will strengthen the implementation of the rice field expansion program and support food security in Papua. ***