Kalibawang Irrigation Area In Kulonprogo Immediately Improved Due To Landslide Point

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) will start rehabilitating the Kalibawang irrigation network in Kulonprogo Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY), this year.

This was conveyed by the Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, while reviewing the irrigation network in the Kalibawang Irrigation Area (DI) in Kulonprogo Regency, DIY, Sunday, May 11.

"The work on the rehabilitation of the Kalibawang irrigation network has been prepared, from this year to all irrigation networks with good performance," said Dody as quoted from his written statement, Tuesday, May 13.

During the visit, Dody said, there were several points in the Kalibawang irrigation network, so it needed to be repaired immediately. Thus, water loss can be minimized.

"Rehabilitation of the Kalibawang irrigation network is important for equal distribution of water for farmers from upstream to downstream. Moreover, to anticipate farmers, it is difficult to get irrigation water during the dry season," he said.

According to Dody, currently the auction for rehabilitation has been completed and physical work will begin soon. "And as long as the implementation will be adjusted to the agreement of the local government (local government) with farmers so that our work in rehabilitating irrigation does not interfere with the planting season of farmers," said Dody.

Dody hopes that with the rehabilitation of the Kalibawang irrigation network, it will be able to provide benefits through an increase in the Plant Index (IP) from 215 percent to 260 percent, thus having a positive impact on increasing rice production and the welfare of farmers in Kulon Progo and DIY.

"In principle, how can we improve the people's welfare through irrigation support for agriculture. Our hope is that with the Irrigation Instruction (Presidential Instruction), improvements can also be reached at the lowest level (tersier)," he concluded.

To note, DI Kalibawang has a primary channel length of 26.34 kilometers and a secondary channel length of 118.81 kilometers with a service area of 7,152 hectares covering Kalibawang, Kokap, Nanggulan, Sentolo, Pengasih, Wates and Temon sub-districts.

Network rehabilitation at the DI Kalibawang, especially kilometer 4 in Banjarharjo Village, Kalibawang District, is considered quite urgent to repair because there have been many secondary channels in the condition of damaged or broken pairs due to landslides and collapsed.