goodmorningpapua.com – The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) of Papua Province encourages the maximum utilization of sago potential in the local area to support the Food Estate program or food sovereignty. A head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Papua Province Ronald Antonio, said the use of the commodity was in the process of being discussed with the local Agriculture, Food Crops and Horticulture Office.
“The potential for sago in Papua is very large, because 4.7 hectares of sago land is in Papua and this is the largest in the world,” he said in Jayapura, Thursday (19/8).
According to Ronald, the expected follow-up from the meeting is the presence of a sago industry being capable of producing quality exports in Papua. “The ultimate goal is to improve the community’s economy, especially small or micro entrepreneurs,” he said.
In line with Ronald Antonio, Deputy Chairperson of the Papua Chamber of Commerce for Agriculture, Agricultural Industry and Food Security, Dian Daat said this discussion was also intended to synchronize perceptions and synergies among relevant stakeholders. “Kadin actually wants to encourage the management of sago from upstream to downstream, so that later it is hoped that there will be connectivity between entrepreneurs and investors,” he said.
He explained that his party will act as an intermediary in finding investors, while the relevant agencies will prepare local entrepreneurs who are ready to partner with big investors. Meanwhile, the Head of Plantation at the Papuan Agriculture, Food Crops and Horticulture Office, Karel Yarangga said that his party had conveyed a number of information regarding the future sago management plan in the meeting.
“If the data is released nationally for sago, of the 5.6 million hectares, 5.2 million hectares are in Papua and West Papua, this has not been managed properly,” he said.
He added, there are two areas that can be the focus of sago development, namely Jayapura Regency and City. The potential of sago in these two areas is large enough and easier to manage.