Gubernur Fakhiri Tegaskan Sagu sebagai Fondasi Kedaulatan Pangan dan Kemandirian Ekonomi Governor Fakhiri Emphasizes Sago as the Foundation of Food Sovereignty and Economic Independence
Gubernur Papua Matius D. Fakhiri menegaskan komitmennya untuk menjadikan sagu sebagai fondasi kedaulatan pangan, pelestarian budaya, perlindungan ekosistem, dan penguatan ekonomi masyarakat adat. Papua Governor Matius D. Fakhiri reaffirmed his commitment to making sago a foundation for food sovereignty, cultural preservation, ecosystem protection, and strengthening the economy of Indigenous communities.
JAYAPURA – Papua Governor Matius D. Fakhiri reaffirmed his commitment to making sago a foundation for food sovereignty, cultural preservation, ecosystem protection, and strengthening the economy of Indigenous communities.
The commitment was conveyed by Governor Fakhiri when opening the 2026 COLO Sago Festival, held under the theme "Sago Sustains Life: From Tradition to Economic Independence" in Jayapura City on Friday, June 19, 2026.
In his remarks, Governor Fakhiri expressed appreciation to the Colo Sagu Nusantara Foundation, the organizing committee, academics, Indigenous communities, MSME actors, and all partners who supported the event.
"For Papuans, sago is not merely a food source. Sago is an identity, a history, and part of the life journey of Indigenous communities that has been passed down from generation to generation," he said.
He noted that sago plays a strategic role in addressing global challenges, particularly in reducing dependence on food supplies from outside the region. With its abundant natural resource potential, sago is considered capable of becoming a foundation for food sovereignty while also opening sustainable economic opportunities for the people of Papua.
For this reason, the Papua Provincial Government continues to encourage the strengthening of the sago ecosystem through the protection of sago areas, the empowerment of Indigenous communities as customary landowners, the development of research and innovation, and the enhancement of added value for sago-based derivative products so they can compete in broader markets.
He also emphasized that sago development requires collaboration among all parties, including the government, customary institutions, universities, the business sector, financial institutions, environmental communities, and the wider public.
"When all elements move together, sago will not only become a cultural symbol, but also a real source of welfare for the people of Papua," he said.
Fakhiri stressed that the spirit of preserving and developing sago is in line with the vision of Papua Cerah, namely the realization of a healthy, prosperous, and harmonious Papua transformation. Through the strengthening of local food based on sago, Papua is expected to build a healthy and economically independent society while maintaining harmony between people, culture, and nature.
Concluding his remarks, Governor Fakhiri invited all elements of society to protect sago forests, safeguard customary land, and develop innovation and downstream processing of sago products so that the benefits can return to the people of Papua as the rightful owners of this cultural heritage. ***
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Tim Redaksi Pemprov Papua
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