The Government Will Complete 259 Dams To Pursue The 2028 Food Swasembada Target

Deputy Minister of Public Works (PU) Diana Kusumastuti said the government would complete the dam construction in order to achieve the food self-sufficiency program in 2028.

Diana said, in order to achieve self-sufficiency in food requirements for the Indonesian water security index, which is 200 cubic meters per capita/year with an even distribution throughout the country.

"The construction of a dam that is evenly distributed is very important for optimizing the provision of irrigation water to support food self-sufficiency, new renewable energy and meeting raw water needs for water security," Diana said as quoted from her written statement, Monday, November 18.

Furthermore, Diana added, the government has also built 187 dams until 2014, plus 61 dams that have been completed and will be completed from 2015 to 2025, as well as an additional 11 new dams.

"a total of 259 dams built by the government," he said.

He added that the construction of dams contributed to the food self-sufficiency program through irrigation services covering an area of 1,271,415 hectares (ha) of land.

Then, self-sufficiency in energy through the addition of electrical energy is around 15,627.83 MW.

Not only that, the government also wants to realize water security of 59.59 cubic meters per capita/year.

However, Diana did not deny that the distribution of the dam site was not evenly distributed throughout Indonesia, as in Kalimantan.

It is known, only part of Indonesia has water resistance of more than 120 cubic meters per capita/year.

"This is the target of the PUPR Ministry's visit in 2030, while several other regions still do not have dams with a water security index of zero cubic meters per capita per year. This is our common task, I hope that the Indonesian National Committee on Large Dams (INACOLD)/National Committee for the Great Dam (KNI-BB) can play an active and collaborative role in realizing the equitable development of this dam," he said.

Previously, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto promised to bring Indonesia to self-sufficiency in food in the next four to five years.

Prabowo emphasized that Indonesia must be able to produce and meet the food needs of all Indonesian people. He admitted that he had spoken to many experts regarding the target of self-sufficiency in food.

"I believe that no later than four years, five years (after 2024), we (can) self-sufficiency in food. In fact, we are ready to become a world food barn," Prabowo said in a speech at the MPR RI Building, Jakarta, Sunday, October 20.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I declare that Indonesia must be self-sufficient in the shortest possible time. We must not depend on eating from outside," he said.