

The cheap rice (raskin) program has been introduced in recent years in Indonesia. (Ist). (Jubi/Dok)
Jayapura, Jubi – The head of Distribution and Food Reserves Coordinating Agency and Food Resilience (BKPKP) of Papua, Sri Utami said food reserves remained low in Papua province, at far below 200 tons.
“Government food reserves are managed by the government and community food reserves are managed by the community,” Sri Utami told reporters in Jayapura, Papua last week.
She said food reserves in Papua Provincial Government accounted for 45 tons of rice and in August the agency will purchase the same amount of rice which are 45 tons.
“Currently the agency stores about 40 tons of rice as other four tons already given to help people affected by natural disasters in Jayapura,” she said.
She added for the need because of disaster should be proposed by the village, addressed to the governor and then followed up by the Food Resilience Agency.
Earlier, the governor of Papua Lukas Enembe said seed commodity-based economic empowerment and investment should be prioritized to encourage the availability of new reserves and increase agricultural production based on local resources. (Alexander Loen/ Tina)