In the vast lowlands of Merauke, South Papua, agriculture has become the center of a much larger conversation, one that touches food security, indigenous communities, environmental concerns, and Indonesia’s ambition to become less dependent on imported food.
Responding to criticism surrounding agricultural development in Merauke, including “Pesta Babi” or Pig Feast documentary, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has defended the government’s program as part of a nationwide effort to create new food producing regions. “What we choose is a “Pesta Panen” or harvest feast, not dependence on imports” Said Amran when discussing the issue in Makassar State University, on 4 June 2026.
Why Merauke Matters
Merauke has long attracted attention because of its extensive lowlands and potential for agriculture. Under the government’s current food-security strategy, parts of South Papua are being developed through land optimization, irrigation, agricultural machinery and improved cultivation.
Amran argues that Merauke should be understood within a much larger national program. Similar agricultural development is taking place in at least 14 provinces, including South Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Aceh and South Sulawesi.
For Papua, this could mean assuming a new position in Indonesia’s economic geography, not simply as a region rich in minerals, forests and fisheries, but increasingly as a contributor to the country’s food system.
In Papua, he also pointed to changes in food availability and prices. Amran said rice that previously could cost as much as Rp30,000 per kilogram in parts of Papua was available at around Rp13,000 per kilogram, which he presented as evidence of how stronger domestic supply could benefit the local community and economy.
Local Farmers at the Center
The agricultural program is intended for local communities rather than private interests. He has also stated that approximately 60,000 hectares involved in the program belong to local communities rather than state-owned enterprises, the government or private companies.
If local communities are placed at the center of the agricultural value chain, investment in farming can stimulate local markets and local enterprises activities.
That would make food development not simply a story about hectares cultivated, but about who participates in and benefits from, the new economy created around those hectares.
Beyond Rice
Papua’s food future should also not be reduced to rice alone. The government itself has emphasized the importance of developing sago and sweet potatoes, foods that have sustained Papuan communities for generations. This opens a wider possibility: modern agricultural development can strengthen national food security while also elevating Papua’s own food traditions.
Together, they can create a more diverse regional food system, one that combines national production objectives with local knowledge and consumption patterns. That diversity may ultimately prove to be one of Papua’s greatest strengths.
A Feast Debate
The controversy surrounding the “Pesta Babi” documentary has brought greater public attention to agricultural development in South Papua. The government strongly disputes its portrayal of the program and has invited critics to examine conditions on the ground.
Yet beyond competing narratives, the discussion raises legitimate questions that will continue to matter: how customary land is protected, how Indigenous communities participate in decisions, how environmental impacts are managed, and how much economic value remains with local people.
Seen from that perspective, Merauke represents more than another agricultural project. It is an opportunity to demonstrate that food security and local prosperity can grow together. For Papua, the best “pesta” or feast would be a future in which the people living closest to the land also share in the prosperity that grows from it.
West Papua Now 