Induk Koperasi Unit Desa (Induk KUD) bersama sejumlah investor dari sejumlah negara akan menandatangani kesepakatan kerja sama (MoU) untuk mengeksplorasi tanaman kelapa sawit, jarak dan singkong.
The government also invites foreign investors to develop animal husbandry, aimed at securing livestock supplies.
The Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) Program, a project which the government claims will be able to bring economic and social welfare for the Papua people, was rejected by the local people themselves.
Wilmar is eyeing Indonesia's Papua Province for a massive cane growing project.
Interview with Elisha Kartini of the Indonesian Peasant Union
We support the position adopted by the Ha Nim indigenous people and their sympathisers who reject the MIFEE project on their land because it poses a threat to the right to life of the local communities and urge the Indonesian state – SBY – to repeal the MoU about MIFEE.
News of progress on the massive Merauke food estate in Papua indicates growing momentum behind Indonesia’s attempts to boost its agricultural output through promoting investment and harnessing technology.
Some projects aimed at increasing food production in Asia have been dropped or delayed amid the financial crisis, notes a new report by IRRI and the Asia Society.
AGRA paper on land grabbing in Indonesia, during the period 2004-2010, for food and agrofuels production (in Bahasa Indonesia only).
Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said his ministry received a proposal to make use of 500,000 hectare areas for the 1.6-million-hectare food and energy estate projects planned in Merauke, Papua.
Company "currently assessing the quality of the land."
No-one should be surprised when people start describing the Merauke Integrated Rice Estate as a clear case of genocide by the Indonesian government, because it has been well-planned and well-organised.
