Inspiring Young Papuan farmers (PMI) harvest corn in Yakasib Village, Namblong District, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province. Corn is harvested in an area of ​​10 hectares and produces 8 to 10 tons of corn per hectare.

“We plant 10 hectares of corn here,” said PMI Coordinator, Namblong District, Kab. Jayapura, Ones Sem in a written statement, Wednesday (23/11/2022).

The corn harvest was symbolically started by Deputy IV for Economic Intelligence at BIN who is also PMI Supervisor Made Kartikajaya. According to Ones, usually farmers are confused about selling their corn crops.

“Farmers here are still unsure about planting, so they only plant 10 hectares, but after PMI, they said they would buy corn products, they were happy and no longer worried about where the corn should be sold,” said Ones.

Ones revealed that there are 300 hectares of potential agricultural land in the Namblong District. There are 50 hectares of potential land for planting corn, of which 10 hectares have already been planted with corn. This is done as an effort to empower the community.

This program is in line with the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, Head of BIN, General Pol (Purn) Budi Gunawan, and was followed up by Deputy IV for Economic Intelligence at BIN, Made Kartikajaya.

Ones said they were grateful to have been part of PMI. This is because being part of the Papuan youth has the determination and will for the people of the Land of Papua to prosper.

“Thank you Mr. President Joko Widodo and the Head of BIN, Mr. Budi Gunawan for all the support that has been given. As well as Mr. Deputy IV, Mr. Made Kartikajaya who often goes directly to remote villages in Papua to provide guidance to us. We are doing our best to society,” he said.

Meanwhile, PMI Secretary Kab. Jayapura, Mulyono also has a feed factory and laying hens in the Hinekombe District, Kab. Jayapura. The factory, which was founded about 5 months ago, is now a legal entity in the form of CV.

Currently the feed production capacity is around 7 tonnes per day with a selling price of around Rp 7,900 per kilogram. According to Mulyono, the obstacle he is facing is the lack of raw materials for feed, which is 55 percent made from corn.

However, with PMI rolling out the corn planting program, all corn crops will be purchased and used as feed ingredients.

Apart from the feed factory, Mulyono is also developing a laying hen farm with a capacity of up to 20,000 birds.

Pulet is imported from Surabaya to be sold to local breeders in Jayapura. The selling price for the pulet is around IDR 110,500 per head with an age of around 13 weeks.

So far, the feed factory and pulet farm have employed 8 workers consisting of native Papuans and migrants.

It is hoped that in the future, Papuan youths can be more independent in developing feed factories and laying hen farming businesses.

In addition, residents had time to enjoy PMI members’ chicken eggs, when the PMI supervisor, Made Kartikajaya, gave instructions regarding the PMI program to residents.

For information, PMI is a BIN fostered organization whose job is to bring new enthusiasm to young people in the Land of Papua. Through PMI, it is hoped that the young generation of Papua will be able to implement their potential and creative ideas in order to support the realization of people’s welfare on Cendrawasih Earth.