Nabire regency in Central Papua is preparing two local transmigration zones in Makimi and Yaro districts as part of a broader effort to strengthen food security, expand livelihood opportunities and reduce economic disparities. The initiative, led by the Nabire administration, is designed to bring agricultural, fisheries, livestock, tourism and community-enterprise potential into a more coordinated development framework.
According to reports published by ANTARA News Papua Tengah, the proposal has already been submitted to provincial and national authorities, with implementation targeted to begin after preparatory work is completed.
The plan reflects a development approach that links settlement planning with local economic resilience rather than treating infrastructure as an isolated investment. Nabire’s Transmigration Affairs Division says the regency has proposed the two areas to the governor of Central Papua, the Ministry of Transmigration, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Development Planning Agency.
Their involvement is important because formal recognition of the zones would allow Nabire to access national budget programs and technical support for training, public services and productive activities.
Building a Foundation for Sustainable Growth
Before the zones can be developed, the Ministry of Transmigration has asked the regency government to allocate funding for public consultations on transmigration regulations and for preparing new area development plans. These plans are expected to establish the spatial, social and economic priorities needed to guide investment while ensuring communities understand the program and its opportunities.
Nabire officials hope the preparatory process will be completed by the end of 2026, enabling training, extension services and other transmigration-related programs to begin in 2027.
That timetable places community participation at the center of the initiative. Public outreach can help residents understand land-use arrangements, available support and the responsibilities involved in developing productive areas, while technical planning can align agricultural expansion with environmental safeguards and existing settlement patterns.
Proper preparation is also expected to help coordinate the roles of the regency, provincial government and central ministries, reducing duplication and making public spending more effective.
Connecting Food Production With Local Potential
Makimi offers several examples of how the proposed zones could combine food production with wider regional development. The Lagari area has Bihewa Waterfall as a tourism asset, freshwater fisheries as a source of food and income, and supporting irrigation and education facilities that can strengthen the foundations of a local growth center.
The Maniwurlen area at SP 4 in Makimi has also been proposed for local transmigration development, with a target population of 540 families.
In Yaro district, the opportunity is closely linked to marine and coastal tourism. The area is known for water-based attractions, including a whale shark tourism site that has already received cruise-ship visitors, creating a platform for community-based services and new sources of regional revenue.
With careful planning, tourism can complement farming and fisheries by supporting guiding, transport, hospitality, food production and small businesses, allowing more value to remain within local communities.
From Established Settlements to Future Opportunity
Nabire’s proposal builds on a long history of transmigration development dating back to 1972. Existing areas include Lagari 1 through Lagari 4 in Makimi, Girimulyo and Wonorejo in Nabire district, SP 1 through SP 3 in West Nabire, SP A through SP C in Wanggar, as well as established zones in Yaro and Yaur.
This experience provides an institutional and social foundation for assessing what has worked, improving services and ensuring that future development responds to current community needs.
The administration views local transmigration as a tool for narrowing regional inequality and promoting a more even distribution of economic opportunity. Its success, however, will depend on sustained investment in roads, irrigation, schools, skills training, healthcare access, market links and environmental management alongside the formal designation of the zones.
If national, provincial and local authorities maintain close coordination, Makimi and Yaro can become practical models of inclusive development in Central Papua—strengthening food supplies while opening pathways to dignified employment, community enterprise and long-term prosperity.
