Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the government to continue and strengthen agricultural development programs in Papua, citing their direct benefits to local communities and farmers, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Thursday.

Speaking after a meeting with Prabowo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Amran said the government has allocated the largest agricultural budget in history for Papua, totaling more than Rp 5.5 trillion ($308 million) over 2025 and 2026.

"We reported to the president that agricultural assistance for Papua reached Rp 3.2 trillion this year and Rp 2 trillion last year, bringing the total to more than Rp 5.5 trillion," Amran told reporters. "The president instructed us to continue the program because it directly benefits the people."

The support includes grants for agricultural machinery such as tractors, as well as funding to expand rice fields and increase food production capacity across the region.

The push forms part of the government's broader effort to strengthen food security while boosting economic development in Indonesia's easternmost provinces.

Amran said the Agriculture Ministry recently met with around 200 representatives from Papua, including governors, district heads, agricultural officials and farmers, to discuss the region's development needs.

During the meeting, several local governments requested additional support for rice field expansion programs.

"We received requests from a number of provinces, including West Papua, to increase the area designated for new rice fields. We will expand the program," Amran said.

The government has promoted agricultural development as a key strategy for improving livelihoods in Papua, where infrastructure gaps and higher poverty rates have long posed challenges to economic growth.

Previously, Amran said the government is accelerating efforts to develop downstream agricultural industries in partnership with state-owned food companies.

The initiative focuses on expanding the cultivation and processing of higher-value commodities such as cocoa, coffee, cashew nuts, coconuts and sugar cane to increase productivity and raise farmers' incomes.

The government has allocated Rp 9.5 trillion for the program, targeting the development of 870,000 hectares of smallholder plantations nationwide between 2025 and 2027.

Amran said the program would include Papua and is expected to support local economic growth while creating new income opportunities in rural areas.

"We have started the program together with state-owned food enterprises in 2025, and we will continue it in 2026 and 2027," he said. "The total area targeted for farmers is 870,000 hectares, including throughout Papua."

The government's National Strategic Projects (PSN) in Papua, including large-scale agricultural expansion, have drawn both support and criticism. While officials say the initiatives are essential to achieving food and energy self-sufficiency and boosting local welfare, indigenous groups and environmental activists warn of potential land rights violations and increased deforestation.