The agricultural sector in Merauke, South Papua, has now become a national spotlight after the government successfully implemented modern technological transformation. Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the standard of tools used by local farmers is currently on par with agricultural technology in developed countries such as Japan and the United States.
This statement was made by Minister Amran while leading a rice planting activity with farmers in Waninggap Kai Village on Saturday (4/7/2026). He emphasized that mechanization is not just a discourse, but the main key to increasing productivity and efficiency in the field.
As concrete evidence, the Minister highlighted the success of Celivius Gebze, an agricultural drone operator from Merauke who was able to significantly improve his economic welfare thanks to his mastery of technology. The government is currently continuing to boost the transfer of knowledge to local youth so they can independently operate modern agricultural equipment, such as drones, rice transplanters, and combine harvesters.
The results of this modernization are also evident in the increase of the cropping index (IP), which has now reached two in Merauke, surpassing the national average of around 1.6 to 1.7. In fact, a target to achieve three planting seasons a year is being prepared to maximize land potential.
A positive impact is also felt on farmers' crop yields. If previously rice production only ranged around three tons per hectare, the figure has now jumped to reach four to seven tons per hectare. This surge in productivity directly contributes to increasing the income of farmers in the region by up to 300 percent, which is expected to drive the welfare of the people of South Papua.
