Keerom, Jubi — A national corn harvest in Sangaria Village, Arso I District, Keerom Regency, produced 30 tons of dried corn from 6 hectares of farmland on Thursday (April 30, 2026), marking a boost to the region’s agricultural sector.

The Governor, Matius D. Fakhiri said the regency is being positioned as a key food production hub in Papua.

“I have made a firm commitment that Keerom Regency will become the food barn of Papua Province,” he said.

Fakhiri also praised local authorities and communities for opening land for agriculture, highlighting collaboration as a key factor behind the sector’s progress.

“I appreciate the Regent and the community for working together to open land for agriculture and plantations. Today, we are seeing the results with this corn harvest,” he said.

He added that the provincial government will continue to support farmers across the production chain, including market access.

“Farmers should not be afraid. The government will facilitate everything from upstream to downstream,” he said.

The harvest is expected to support efforts to increase corn production, with authorities also working to strengthen farmer assistance programs.

With its land potential, Keerom is expected to play a larger role in regional food supply and help reduce reliance on imports from other areas. (*)