Sentani, July 15 -- Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said the National Strategic Project (PSN) in Merauke, South Papua, is expected to become a food production hub to meet regional needs and strengthen Papua's food self-sufficiency.

"The project in Merauke is expected to become a food production center capable of meeting the food needs of the people in Papua," Hasan said in Sentani, Papua, on Tuesday.

According to him, the project aims not only to increase food production but also to develop renewable energy, with a target of establishing around one million hectares of rice fields and producing B50 biodiesel.

"If the project proceeds as planned, Papua will be able to meet its own demand for rice, fish, and diesel f...