Academic Forum Discusses Food Estate in Merauke
The atmosphere of the Academic Forum organized by Sophia Nusantara in collaboration with the Student Executive Board of Musamus University on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The event, held at Gedung PKM of Musamus University in Merauke Regency, discussed the topic: "Mapping Studies and Preliminary Research Findings on the Food Estate."
The event was attended by participants representing academics, students, NGOs, and journalists. In his opening remarks, Yosehi Mekiuw, Vice Rector III of Musamus University, stated that this event was a form of collaboration to show concern for the customary forests in Merauke Regency.
Maria Magdalena Diana Widiastuti, one of the speakers at the event, expressed her hope that the “Academic Forum” could generate new ideas for research on the Food Estate.
The Food Estate is a National Strategic Project (PSN) in Merauke. The project involves large-scale land clearing, which may trigger climate change and pose a serious threat to the Malind Indigenous Peoples. The Malind Indigenous Peoples are the native inhabitants of Merauke.
Meanwhile, Mama Yashinta Moiwend, representing communities affected by the PSN, shared the chronology and impacts of forest exploitation on the Malind Indigenous Peoples. According to Yashinta, indigenous peoples cannot be separated from their customary forests. Forest degradation directly affects the lives of indigenous communities.
The Food Estate project entered and cleared the forest without any consultation with the indigenous people. “We are not being respected. The local government is also turning a blind eye to this issue,” she said.
Yashinta stated that her community rejects the Food Estate program, as it is incompatible with the lifestyle of the indigenous peoples of Merauke. Furthermore, the deforested land is being converted into rice fields, even though rice is not a traditional food of the indigenous people in Merauke.
Forum Akademisi Membahas Food Estate di Merauke
Suasana kegiatan Forum Akademisi yang dilaksanakan oleh Sophia Nusantara bekerja sama dengan BEM KM Universitas Musamus pada Rabu, 14 Mei 2025. Acara yang diselenggarakan di Gedung PKM Universitas Musamus, Kabupaten Merauke tersebut membahas tentang “Pemetaan Kajian dan Temuan Awal Riset Food Estate”.
Kegiatan tersebut diikuti oleh para peserta yang berasal dari perwakilan akademisi, mahasiswa, LSM dan jurnalis. Yosehi Mekiuw, Wakil Rektor III Universitas Musamus, dalam sambutannya mengatakan bahwa kegiatan ini merupakan bentuk kolaborasi untuk kepedulian terhadap hutan adat di Kabupaten Merauke.
Maria Magdalena Diana Widiastuti yang menjadi salah satu narasumber acara tersebut berharap “Forum Akademisi” ini bisa menghasilkan ide baru tentang penelitian mengenai Food Estate.
Food Estate adalah Proyek Strategis Nasional (PSN) di Merauke. Proyek itu dilakukan dengan cara pembukaan lahan secara luas. Hal tersebut dapat memicu terjadinya perubahan iklim serta menjadi ancaman nyata bagi Masyarakat Adat Malind. Masyarakat Adat Malind adalah masyarakat adat di Merauke.
Sementara itu, Mama Yashinta Moiwend selaku perwakilan masyarakat terdampak dari PSN menceritakan kronologi dan dampak eksploitasi hutan terhadap masyarakat adat Malind. Menurut Yashinta, masyarakat adat tidak bisa dipisahkan dari hutan adat mereka. Kerusakan hutan akan berdampak langsung terhadap kehidupan masyarakat adat.
Proyek Food Estate masuk dan membabat hutan tanpa ada sosialisasi ke masyarakat adat. “Kami tidak dihargai. Pemerintah daerah juga tutup mata terkait permasalahan ini,” ujarnya.
Yashinta mengatakan pihaknya menolak program Food Estate karena program tersebut tidak cocok dengan kehidupan masyarakat adat Merauke. Apalagi, penebangan hutan tersebut diperuntukkan untuk pembuatan sawah yang selanjutnya ditanami padi. Padahal, padi bukan makanan lokal masyarakat adat Merauke.
