Indonesia Supports Farming in Papua Highlands with Equipment, Arabica Coffee

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Agriculture Minister, Andi Amran Sulaiman, has responded to requests from the Puncak Regency Government in Central Papua by preparing agricultural machinery and equipment for farmers across 25 districts. The ministry is also opening opportunities to gradually develop up to 500 hectares of Arabica coffee plantations to strengthen the local economy in the mountainous region.

He announced the support during a meeting with several regional government leaders at the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters in Jakarta on Monday August 24, 2026. He said agricultural assistance was particularly important for Puncak, where mountainous terrain and limited transportation infrastructure make it difficult to deliver farming equipment to remote communities.

“For the initial stage, we will focus on agricultural equipment because the budget is available,” Amran said. He instructed the Directorate General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities to assess the equipment needed and called for agricultural extension officers to assist farmers in using the support effectively.

The equipment requested by the Puncak government includes basic tools such as crowbars, hoes, shovels, and machetes. Due to the region’s difficult terrain and high transportation costs, local authorities have proposed using two aircraft to deliver the equipment to farmers as quickly as possible.

Puncak Deputy Regent, Naftali Akawal, said the assistance was urgently needed because transportation between districts often requires the use of small aircraft. He added that difficult access has increased the cost of delivering agricultural supplies and services to communities across the mountainous regency.

Farmers in Puncak are also facing challenging weather conditions, including drought and extremely cold temperatures that have affected crops. “Puncak is the highest area in Papua. It is extremely cold there, and many people have planted crops, but they are now drying out because ice and snow have fallen,” Naftali said.

Beyond food crops, Naftali highlighted coffee and livestock as sectors with significant potential for development in Puncak. “We need coffee, livestock, and agriculture there. It is very important because Puncak is still lagging behind, and we need all 25 districts to be included,” he said.

Amran responded by encouraging Puncak to begin developing Arabica coffee on an initial 100-hectare area. “For Arabica coffee, start with 100 hectares first. If it can be managed successfully, we can expand it to 500 hectares,” he said.

The minister also instructed the Directorate General of Plantations to coordinate with the Puncak Regency Government on the coffee development plan. He said the government remains committed to strengthening agriculture in Papua based on the potential and needs of each region, noting that a total of 5 trillion rupiah had been allocated for agricultural support across Papua during 2025–2026.

The planned assistance is expected to strengthen agricultural activity in Puncak amid geographic and weather-related challenges. By combining farming equipment, agricultural extension services, and the development of Arabica coffee plantations, the government aims to help farmers across 25 districts increase productivity and create stronger sources of income for local communities.