Papua Strengthens Partnership Between Chili Farmers and MSMEs to Boost Local Economic Value
BERITATOP – The Papua Provincial Government continues to encourage cooperation between chili farmers in Keerom Regency and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (UMKM) food processing actors. This step is taken to strengthen the marketing of agricultural products while improving community welfare.
Head of the Papua Manpower, Cooperatives, and SMEs Office, Jimmy Thesia, said that chili produced by Keerom farmers is of good quality and has the potential to become a primary raw material for the food processing industry in Papua.
According to Jimmy, one of the obstacles still faced by farmers is a rather long distribution chain. This condition affects the selling price and reduces the competitiveness of products in the market.
“We want the farmers’ production to be channeled directly to business actors so that the economic benefits can be more felt by the community,” said Jimmy in Jayapura.
He explained that the demand for chili for the food processing industry in Papua is still quite high. Therefore, the government continues to strive to strengthen the synergy between farmers, cooperatives, and business actors so that the availability of raw materials can be sustainably maintained.
One example of successful local product development is seen from a chili sauce processing business that is now able to market its products outside of Papua. This indicates that the market opportunity for local chili commodities is still very promising.
Jimmy also hopes that cooperatives can play a strategic role as a link between farmers and business actors. Thus, the distribution process of harvested produce will become more effective and efficient.
In addition to chili commodities, the Papua Provincial Government also continues to develop various other superior commodities such as coffee, cocoa, vanilla, and sago as an effort to strengthen the community's economy and encourage the growth of UMKM in the region. ***
