5 Years of Work, the Government Successfully Reduced the Number of Villages Very Underdeveloped in Papua

 

Throughout 2015 to 2020, the number of very underdeveloped villages in Papua Province has decreased by 891 villages, from 3,789 to 2,898 villages.

Meanwhile, developed villages experienced an increase of five villages to 21 villages. Then, an independent village emerged.

Minister of Villages for Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Mendes PDTT) Abdul Halim Iskandar said that the decline in very disadvantaged villages has also occurred in West Papua Province.

“Villages are very underdeveloped in West Papua down from 921 villages to 890 villages. Developed villages have increased from four villages to 11 villages, ”said Abdul Halim, Saturday, May 1, 2021.

He further explained that the decline in the number of villages that were left behind was a positive impact of the Village Fund program that was promoted by the government.

Gus Minister, nicknamed Abdul Halim, said that the Village Fund for Papua Province reached IDR 22.46 trillion during 2015-2021.

"These include building 1,348 km of roads, 13 km of bridges, 73 market units, 75 additional units of boats, 16 units of reservoirs, 167 rural electricity units, 4,087 clean water infrastructure units, 3,282 units of toilets, 32 polindes, 182 posyandu," he said.

Then, the Village Fund in West Papua during 2015-2021 reached Rp. 6.86 trillion which was used to build 440 km of roads, construction of 1.6 km of bridges, 22 market units, 57 additional units of boats, 2 units of reservoirs, 1,961 units of rural electricity, 1,934 clean water infrastructure units, 3,535 MCK units, 30 polindes, 129 posyandu.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health's PDTT aid allocation for Papua and West Papua in 2019, Gus Minister said, reached IDR 76.318 billion. Then, in 2020 it will reach IDR 39.445 billion.

Gus Minister also said, that from 2017 to 2018, the Ministry of Villages of PDTT together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development had implemented the Independent Village Development Program (PPDM).

"PPDM activities include facilitating Arfak Mountains farmer groups in supplying carrots, potatoes, chayote, green onions, passion fruit & mustard greens for Subitu Market (BP-LNG Tangguh, Teluk Bintuni Regency)," said Gus Minister.

In addition, the program also facilitates the Jayawijaya Regency Farmers Group in collaborating with BRI to procure equipment and strengthen agricultural capacity (coffee, dragon fruit and honey). Then, develop the cultivation and sale of dragon fruit in Nabire Regency.

Facilitating increased access to the honey market for the Jayawijaya District Farmers Group. Then, facilitate Farmer Groups in Fak-Fak, Kaimana, Raja Ampat, and Yapen Districts in marketing seaweed directly to associations and seaweed exporters. And the development of tripang cultivation in Fak-Fak Regency.