FOUR workers planted rice seeds on a square of rice fields in the Wapeko village, Kurik District, Merauke Regency, Papua. That morning, on Wednesday, August 5, water had already filled Wapeko’s rice fields. The rice fields managed by Parama Pangan Papua, part of Medco Papua Group, were entering planting season as the dry season arrived this year.

Medco manages almost 400 hectares of land in Merauke, most of which is planted with rice.