goodmorningpapua.com – The State Intelligence Agency (BIN) and young people who are members of the Papua Muda Inspiratif (PMI) held an inaugural planting event for modern hybrid corn in Sidey Baru Village, Manokwari Regency, West Papua, Thursday, October 20, 2022.
For the initial stage, corn planting is carried out on an area of 10 hectares. However, this figure will soon grow because a total of 100 hectares of unused land have been prepared.
The first corn planting was started by BIN Deputy IV for Economic Intelligence Made Kartikajaya, followed by PMI West Papua Coordinator Simon Tabuni, millennial farmers, representatives of farmer groups and representatives of the Manokwari Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda).
Millennial farmer and member of PMI, Arnold Moktis (34) said that the corn planting conducted on the land of the Sumber Rezeki farmer group, which is PMI’s fostered partner, was possible thanks to the encouragement of BIN.
Furthermore, PMI will provide assistance starting from planting, maintenance to marketing. PMI and BIN prepare their off-stakeholders.
Arnold explained that so far, farmers in his area still use manual tools in growing corn, and are always confused about selling corn when it is harvested.
However, with PMI together with BIN, farmers have started farming corn in a modern way. And, in the future, farmers will not be confused about where to sell their crops. This is because PMI, at the instigation of BIN, has collaborated with a number of parties to buy their crops. The farmers feel happy and excited to farm corn.
“Representing Papua Muda Inspiratif and millennial farmers, we are very proud and grateful because the moment that took place today was extraordinary. This is what we have hoped for so far,” said Arnold accompanied by Made Kartikajaya after the planting event.
Arnold stated that he would embrace all farmers, youth and Papuan mothers to participate in corn farming to increase their income. In general, this program is expected to improve the welfare of the people in West Papua. According to Arnold, the PMI program with BIN can provide solutions to problems faced by the community.
“We will embrace all the farmers, the existing mothers, to let us cultivate the land so it doesn’t just fall apart, but there are benefits, in order to realize prosperity, prosperity in Sidey, more generally for this nation and country,” he said.
Corn planting is expected to last for the next 7 days. The harvest target will be carried out in January 2023.