RRI.CO.ID, Nabire - The Nabire Regency Administration has launched a biofortified rice cultivation program aimed at strengthening local food security and reducing stunting prevalence in Central Papua. The initiative focuses on producing nutrient-dense crops to address nutritional deficiencies through sustainable local agriculture.

The program kicked off with an inaugural planting session at the Nabire Agriculture Office's Rice Seed Center on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, involving local administration officials, security forces, and farming groups.

“We appreciate all parties involved. Synergy between the administration and the community is the main key to achieving food independence in Nabire,” said Nabire Deputy Regent Burhanudin Pawennari, as quoted by Antara.

Head of the Nabire Food Security Agency, Victor Sawo, explained that biofortified rice was specifically selected for its enhanced nutritional profile. Unlike standard varieties, these crops are bred to contain higher levels of essential minerals, particularly zinc, which is critical for physical growth and cognitive development in children.

By producing high-nutrition rice locally, the administration hopes to create a long-term intervention for malnutrition while simultaneously reducing the region's dependence on food supplies from outside Papua. “By producing high-nutrition rice independently, the hope is that dependence on supplies from outside the region can be reduced,” Victor added.

To ensure the program's success, the Nabire Regency Administration distributed aid to local farmers, including superior biofortified seeds, subsidized fertilizers, and modern agricultural machinery (alsintan). This support is intended to boost land productivity and modernize local farming techniques.

The Commander of the Nabire Naval Base, Lt. Col. Mario Marco Wainarisi, expressed his support for the initiative, noting its potential to improve the welfare of farmers and fortify regional stability.

“The hope is that agricultural yields increase so that food security becomes stronger and the people of Nabire are more prosperous with guaranteed nutritional quality,” he remarked.

The Rice Seed Center will now serve as a hub for the development and distribution of biofortified seeds to various districts across Nabire, marking a new chapter in the province's fight against stunting through innovative agriculture. ***