Govt provides Rp 2.9b for agricultural development in Papua

The Agriculture Ministry has allocated Rp 2.9 billion (US$325,000) in the 2012 state budget for co-administration programs in Biak Numfor regency, Papua.

Biak Numfor Agriculture and Livestock Agency head Absalom Rumkorem said on Tuesday that the fund was allocated to finance animal husbandry, agriculture and food security programs.

“The program is aiming to increase the level of production, productivity and crop quality, [as part of efforts] to achieve sustainable self-sufficiency,” he said as quoted by Antara.

Rumkorem said that the administration should use the budget to increase the availability of food made from livestock in a healthy, safe and clean way, to increase the added value of livestock products and competitiveness of the downstream industry, and to improve the marketing strategy and export level of agricultural products.

He added that the budget was also allocated for the development of human resources in the agricultural sector and for programs of product diversification and community-based food security. (drs/mtq)