Antara, Jakarta – The government planned to build food estate in Puncak District, Central Papua, in an effort to anticipate famine caused by drought and periodic frost phenomena in the region.

"We will build a kind of food storage in Agandugume District near the airport. In this way, we can anticipate that [disaster] before May, if possible. There will also be food stocks supplied by BNPB (National Disaster Mitigation Agency) and the Ministry of Social Affairs," Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said in a statement in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

Muhadjir made the statement after reviewing the drought and famine that occurred in Agandugume, Lambewi, and Oneri Districts, Puncak Regency of Central Papua Province.

Muhadjir said that the drought amid the dry season and the frost phenomenon in the region always occurs periodically in the middle of the year from May to July, resulting in crop failure, as well as shortages of food and clean water.

The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, the BNPB Head, the Regent of Puncak Regency, and the Cenderawasih Regional Military Commander in a coordination meeting agreed to construct a food barn as one of the options to tackle the impact of the prolonged dry season.

"So, when the periodic disaster occurs, it can be automatically resolved," Muhadjir said.

The plan will be reported to President Joko Widodo or Jokwoi and will be studied to become a part of permanent anticipation measures in dealing with periodic phenomena in Puncak Regency. Security personnel will also be deployed to oversee and monitor the distribution of food stocks.

"We will discuss it with the President. We will conduct a more thorough study. However, for a temporary picture, we will build a kind of food storage in Agandugume near the airport, which is a strategic location and is accessible to the three districts," Muhadjir said.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1755392/govt-to-build-food-estate-to-tackle-drought-famine-in-papu