JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) continues to accelerate the completion of the construction of the Jragung Dam in Semarang Regency, Central Java, as one of the strategic infrastructures to realize food self-sufficiency which is part of President Prabowo Subianto's Astacita.
Currently, the progress of the dam construction has reached 88 percent and is targeted for completion in September 2026.
PU Minister Dody Hanggodo said the Jragung Dam would be the main support for the Jragung Irrigation Region (DI) covering an area of 4,053 hectares and to open an additional 473 hectares of potential land. With the availability of irrigation water supplies from dams, farmers can use premium irrigation to increase their planting period, at least three times the planting period per year.
"I hope that in 2027 I will be able to irrigate 4,500 hectares of agricultural land, so that it will increase the Plant Index (IP) from 200 percent to 300 percent. And can support President Prabowo's program in self-sufficiency in food," said Dody as quoted from his written statement, Saturday, September 6.
The Jragung Dam has a capacity of 90 million cubic meters with an inundation area of 451 hectares that has the potential to supply water for 4,528 hectares of agricultural land in Grobogan Regency and Demak Regency (covering Karangawen, Mranggen and Guntur sub-districts), including development to Tegowanu District and Harjo's Responsibility in Grobogan.
The construction of the water infrastructure has been started since October 2020 by the Pemali Juana River Basin Center (BBWS) on the upstream side of the Jragung River, which is the parent of the Klampok and Meranak rivers, with an area of 94 square kilometers of river catchment.
In addition to irrigation, the multifunctional Dam also has the potential to provide raw water of 1,000 liters per second, which will be distributed to Semarang City (400 liters/second), Grobogan Regency (250 liters/second) and Demak Regency (350 liters/second).
The infrastructure also functions as flood control by reducing about 45 percent and potentially becoming a renewable energy source through PLTS with a capacity of 90 MW and PLTMH 1.4 MW.
Head of BBWS Pemali Juana Sudarto said that the existence of the Jragung Dam also opened up new economic opportunities, especially in the tourism sector.
"As long as access to the dam is built 9.4 kilometers, many stalls have used the view of the dam. This clearly drives the residents' economy," he said.
One of the traders, Nur Samsiyah, admitted that he had started selling food along the access to the Jragung Dam since Eid al-Fitr 2025.
"Since Ramadan, many residents have come here to enjoy the view of the dam, so we take advantage of that opportunity to sell," he said.
With various benefits, the Jragung Dam is not only a supporter of food security, but also supports the availability of clean water, flood control, energy sources and local economic development that are in line with President Prabowo Subianto's vision.
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