Indonesia earmarks Rp14 trillion for irrigation overhaul in 2026

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government has allocated Rp14 trillion (around US$780 million) to revitalize irrigation systems across Indonesia in 2026, aiming to boost farming yields and support the food self-sufficiency agenda, Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono said.

He noted that the budget rose from last year’s Rp12 trillion to back the nationwide irrigation upgrade program scheduled to run through 2029.

“Our hope is that all irrigation systems requiring repairs will have been handled by 2029,” Sudaryono said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He explained that the government decided to intensify irrigation upgrades in response to farmers’ aspirations, which revealed thousands of hectares of farmland lacking water access due to substandard irrigation systems.

The deputy minister stressed that proper irrigation is essential to increase the cropping index, enabling farmers to plant multiple times a year and fully capitalize on their lands.

“We hope irrigation will enable people to plant even in the dry season,” he added, underlining the importance of boosting agricultural productivity for national development.

Sudaryono had earlier conversed with farmers to directly capture their aspirations and concerns during the National Farmers and Fishers Week XVII in Gorontalo on Tuesday (June 23).

On that occasion, he highlighted the government’s commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency through irrigation upgrades, quality seed provision, and agricultural equipment modernization.

These measures, he said, had enabled Indonesia to halt rice, corn, and sugar imports and shift to abundant domestic supplies.

“We should be grateful for this development while continuing efforts to make improvements,” Sudaryono stated.

He added that the government would continue to ensure access to quality seeds, strengthen production facilities and infrastructure, and revitalize irrigation networks nationwide to realize equitable agricultural development.

“President Prabowo Subianto is committed to pursuing food self-sufficiency not only to achieve economic gains but also to strengthen national resilience and sovereignty,” he concluded.

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Translator: M. Harianto, Tegar Nurfitra

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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