Jayapura Regional Police Promotes Community Local Food Security Program

Jayapura Regional Police Promotes Community Local Food Security Program

Jayapura City Municipal Police (Polresta) is implementing a local food security program utilizing 4,500 square meters (M2) of land amid the corona virus pandemic (COVID-19).

Jayapura City Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Gustav R Urbinas said the vacant land was specifically used to grow vegetable commodities such as eggplant, chillies, water spinach, tomatoes, corn, and cassava, by involving Jayapura City Police officials.

"This type of vegetable is easy to care for with a short harvest period. And since last Saturday we started planting, hoping that it will be harvested as soon as possible," said AKBP Gustav.

He revealed that the vast land was located on Jalan Sorong, Kelurahan Koya Barat, Muara Tami District, Jayapura City or not far from Skouw-Wutung, the RI-PNG border.

"The land was not initially managed, so we use it for agricultural areas which will later become productive land in the future, each time the harvest is given to the community. Surely this is a proof of Polri's care for the community in the midst of a pandemic outbreak," he said.

In the COVID-19 pandemic situation, community independence is very much needed, of course, assistance is needed so that later residents will be invited to work together to realize food security independently by farming using the yard.

"Food security starts from our own environment, we hope that every citizen who has vacant land or yard should be used for useful plants so that food security can begin," he said.

In general, Jayapura City is a fertile area, especially in the Muara Tami District which is an agricultural or food-producing area. Therefore, it is not difficult if the land and yard of the residents' houses are used for planting food commodities.

"In addition to utilizing a large yard, for those who have a minimum of yard can plant in pots or polybags, for example, can grow cayenne pepper, leeks, lettuce, potatoes, or other plants that can increase food security. Of course, if this is done, the community can cut expenses so it can be useful to maintain family economic security, "he said.