Sulsel Provincial Government Disbursed IDR 24.6 Billion for Balombong Irrigation Rehabilitation, 800 Acres of Rice Fields to be Irrigated
SOUTH SULAWESI - The South Sulawesi Provincial Government has begun to realize the rehabilitation of the Balombong Irrigation Area (DI) which is located in Lembang Bori Lombongan, North Toraja Regency. The project was marked by the laying of the first stone and supported by a budget of Rp. 24.6 billion.
South Sulawesi Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman said the reconstruction of the irrigation network was aimed at increasing the coverage of services that had not been optimal. Currently, the Balombong irrigation system is only able to irrigate about 16 percent of the total land area designed to be served.
"This design is 1,040 hectares. Now the capacity is only 16 percent and we will increase it to 80 percent, so that it can be irrigated back to 800 hectares," he said, as quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, July 26.
According to Andi Sudirman, after the rehabilitation process is completed, DI Balombong will have the status of technical irrigation. This condition is expected to support increased agricultural yields through better water availability so that farmers can plant up to twice a year.
"Here it will be technical irrigation and can be twice a year (harvest) with a wider capacity," he explained.
He also invited the public to provide support during the construction process so that the work can be completed according to the target that has been set.
In addition to improving the welfare of farmers, the rehabilitation of DI Balombong is expected to strengthen the region's food security while also being one of the efforts to encourage the progress of the agricultural sector in South Sulawesi.
The DI rehabilitation program in Balombong is part of the Multiyears Project (MYP) Package 4 of irrigation area rehabilitation. The package includes eight irrigation areas spread across Enrekang Regency, North Toraja, Luwu, North Luwu, and East Luwu, with a total budget value of IDR 120 billion.