Minister Dody Says Jatigede Dam Increases Agricultural Production In Three Regions

Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo (Photo: dock. VOI)

SUMEDANG - Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo conducted a review of the Jatigede Dam in Sumedang, West Java, today. It is known that this dam has been inaugurated since 2017 in the era of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) leadership.

The dam, which was carried out from 2008-2017, cost IDR 4.4 trillion. One of the benefits is to increase agricultural production.

After the Jatigede Dam, agricultural production in the three regions has increased significantly.

Before there was a dam, Indramayu only produced 450,101 tons of rice. After there was a dam, now the area produces 1,184,771 tons of rice.

In Cirebon, before the dam, this area only produced 121,052 tons of rice. However, after the dam, it has now produced 266,282 tons of rice.

Then in Majalengka, before this dam existed, the area only produced 3,613 tons. However, currently agricultural production in the area has increased to 11,572 tons thanks to the construction of the Jatigede Dam.

Dody also did not deny that many benefits were felt by the community thanks to the construction of the Jatigede Dam.

"This (region) is quite large rice producer, yes. One of them is to support how many irrigation areas," he said at the location.

According to Dody, the Jatigede Dam also supports food security, which is a priority program in the era of Prabowo Subianto's leadership.

"One of the main focuses of the Ministry of Public Works is to support food security, right. Dams, right, support is not only talking about food security issues, but also water security. Water security is one of the reasons for preparing raw water for the community," he explained.

Not only that, Dody assessed, with this dam, flooding in the surrounding area could also be reduced by up to 80 percent. "So far, the main functions are actually reducing flooding in the upper area," he added.