This was conveyed by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, after a meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Presidential Palace here on Thursday.
"According to President Joko Widodo's directive, we will transfer appropriate technology to increase the added value of local food, especially tubers," he said.
He informed that President Widodo has instructed the government to transfer the appropriate technology to Central Papua as a long-term solution so that tubers, which are a staple food in the province, can be stored in food warehouses.
He noted that a famine caused by food security disruption in Central Papua has killed six people so far.
Extreme weather, which has led to drought, and freezing temperatures in the region have caused food crops to fail.
Effendy also asked the President's advisor for economic affairs, Arif Budimanta, and the rector of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Arif Satria, to determine the appropriate technologies that can be applied to support food security in Central Papua.
He also asked them to pick tuber varieties that can withstand seasonal anomalies so that those varieties can be planted in the province.
"Because of the season (anomalies), the tubers rot. The existence of appropriate technology is expected to build food security," he explained.
In addition to technology transfer, the government has prepared a medium-term solution, which is building a food warehouse in one of the affected regions — Agandugume district.
The government will also extend the runway of Agandugume Airport so that large aircraft can land there to allow greater logistical assistance distribution.
Meanwhile, other long-term solutions include strengthening community involvement, increasing the availability of health workers, and allocating an affirmation fund.
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Translator: Mentari G, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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