Papua infrastructure development focuses on irrigation and basic services

The Indonesian government is accelerating infrastructure development in Papua to improve food security and reduce regional inequality. The Ministry of Public Works is constructing Groundwater Irrigation Networks (JIAT) in Kalobo and Waibu villages, Southwest Papua. This project utilizes boreholes and pumps to provide water to approximately 100 hectares of farmland, benefiting around 90 farmers, particularly during dry seasons.

The JIAT system includes 10 borehole points, a 10-kilometer network, and 80 supporting structures. Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo emphasized that the infrastructure includes tertiary channels to ensure water reaches agricultural lands effectively.

In a separate push for comprehensive development, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono has called for a focus on basic infrastructure in Papua. Beyond road connectivity, the minister highlighted the vital need for clean water, sanitation, housing, and education to improve public health and economic stability in the region.