Minister Of Public Works: Improved Irrigation Support Food Self-Sufficiency

Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo said the government is repairing irrigation canals, one of which is the Serayu Movement Dam in Banyumas Regency, Central Java, as an effort to support food self-sufficiency.

"This is 20 thousand hectares (irrigation area coverage from the Serayu Movement Dam). Actually, there is rehabilitation from 2017 to 2021," said Dody Hanggodo after reviewing the Serayu Movement Dam in Tambaknegara Village, Rawalo District, Banyumas Regency, quoted by Antara, Monday, January 13.

Therefore, the planting index (IP) in rice fields flowed by water from the Serayu Movement Dam rose to almost 2.5 times a year.

In this regard, he said the Ministry of Public Works plans to re-rehabilitate the Serayu Movement Dam around 2027 while waiting for loan funds.

"We are still in the process of loan funds (loans). We hope that after the next rehabilitation it will be completed, IP can increase by 300 percent (IP 300 or three times planting in a year)," he said.

On that occasion, Minister Dody mentioned the proposal submitted by the Acting (Pj) Regent of Banyumas Iwanuddin Iskandar during a discussion in the form of the existence of rice fields behind the hill around the Serayu Movement Dam which must get attention.

"It's a bit difficult to drain there, but earlier I asked the head of the hall to cooperate with the local Agriculture Service and Babinsa to check how to make the rice fields there water, maybe not from here, I also don't know. But even if there is a pump from here," he said accompanied by Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti and Acting Regent of Banyumas Iwanuddin Iskandar.

He admitted that he was trying to find a sustainable solution, not one time planting, two times planting, then abandoned.

According to him, this is because if the effort to irrigate the rice fields behind the hill is carried out using a pump, it means that there will be a need for diesel fuel.

"If we release the diesel to the farmers, there will be an additional cost for farmers which may be difficult for them. So, I hope, whatever solutions we present to the farmers, it will not become a burden for them," he said.

He said this was also an order from President Prabowo Subianto, how his ministers could further improve the welfare of farmers, so that the price of unhulled rice was increased and the availability of fertilizers accelerated.

Furthermore, he asked the Head of the Serayu Opak River Basin Center (BBWSSO) to cooperate with the Banyumas Regency Agriculture and Food Security Service and Village Guidance Officers (Babinsa) to find solutions related to the way to irrigate the rice fields behind the hill.

"Incidentally, we have MoU (Memorandum of Understanding / Memorandum of Understanding) three of them to find a solution for how we can water what is behind the hill. Do we have to come from here, or can we find other ways, ways that will not become a new burden for farmers," said the Minister of Public Works asserted.

The visit of the Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, was also attended by the elected Banyumas Regent, Sadewo Tri Lastiono, who is also the Deputy Regent of Banyumas for the 2018-2023 period.