JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the government had started distribution of water pumps to all provinces to ensure agricultural productivity remained stable, anticipating the possibility of a long drought in Indonesia.
This step was taken in response to the predictions of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) which indicated the possibility of heat waves and long droughts in Indonesia in July-October this year.
"In Central Java, of the total 4,300 pumps, we hope that our productivity will increase by 1.3 million tons," said President Jokowi when reviewing the implementation of the pumping in Kalibeji Village, Tuntang District, Semarang Regency, Central Java, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, June 19.
With the help of pumping, the government is targeting an increase in total rice production in Central Java from 8.9 million tons to around 10.2 million tons.
This national project, according to Jokowi, is not limited to only one area, but includes the distribution of tens of thousands of water pumps throughout Indonesia.
For 2024, the government will distribute 25 thousand pumps and will be targeted to increase to 75 thousand pumps in the future. "There are 8 PK there are 18 PK, yes, the pumps are small, but this will increase productivity," said the President.
He said this pumping would allow agricultural land to irrigate a wider area and allow two to three harvests per year, from previously only one or two times.
This step is considered important to maintain the stability of food stocks and control food prices in the midst of uncertain global conditions.
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President Jokowi also emphasized the importance of preventive preparations and actions to deal with extreme climate change.
"All countries currently have productions down due to heat waves, due to long droughts, because El Nino is what we want to anticipate," Jokowi also said.
Also accompanying President Jokowi in the review were Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Acting Governor of Central Java Nana Sudjana, and Regent of Semarang Ngesti Nugraha.
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