Southwest Papua supports local peanut cultivation

The Southwest Papua Provincial Government is developing peanut cultivation as a leading commodity in Maybrat Regency to improve the economic conditions of the region's people. Southwest Papua Agriculture, Food, Maritime Affairs, and Fisheries Office Head Absalom Solossa stated in Sorong on Apr. 20, 2025 that Maybrat Regency has the potential for peanut cultivation due to its fertile land. Hence, the government is provided seeds and equipment to help farmers plant peanuts.

"This is the benefit of the presence of this province, to bring services closer to the local community," he added.

Absalom noted that almost everyone in 200 villages across Maybrat Regency grow peanuts, and indigenous Papuans make up the majority of the farmer groups in those villages.

"We are currently recording the number of peanut farmer groups so that assistance to them could be followed up on," he divulged.

Absalom acknowledged that peanut production in Maybrat Regency is quite high, but is constrained in terms of marketing the commodity's harvest.

"We work around this [limitation] by providing training in peanut [products]-making techniques [and] packing, [with the products] to later be marketed through public places such as airports, supermarkets, and hotels," he said.

In addition, the Southwest Papua Provincial Government has developed peanut cultivation in Wendi Village, Sawiat District, South Sorong Regency by successfully harvesting peanuts on 1 hectare (ha) of land with a harvest volume of 100 kilograms.

Absalom hopes that efforts to develop peanut cultivation will improve the economic conditions of Southwest Papua's local community, especially in hinterland areas.