Additional TKD for North Tapanuli: Farmers and MSMEs to Benefit

Post-flood recovery in North Tapanuli Regency is extending beyond the construction of roads and settlements. The local government is also leveraging the Additional Regional Transfer Funds (TKD) for the 2026 Fiscal Year to accelerate economic recovery. A total of Rp 74.35 billion in additional TKD has been allocated, with Rp 43.16 billion for infrastructure, Rp 22.57 billion for other affairs, Rp 4.29 billion for health, Rp 2.68 billion for agriculture, and Rp 1.65 billion for the education sector. Josua Hutabarat, Head of the Regional Finance and Asset Agency (BKAD) of North Tapanuli Regency, explained that the Rp 2.68 billion allocation for agriculture is being implemented through several programmes. One such programme is the procurement of 16 type-2 cultivators, valued at approximately Rp 360 million, which will be distributed to affected farmer groups, along with the provision of avocado seedlings worth Rp 260 million. The local government has also prepared an integrated agricultural land maturation programme, which includes land clearing, stripping and levelling, compaction, and the construction of water channels to restore productivity. In the fisheries sector, the additional TKD is being used to optimise the Purbatua Fish Seed Centre and revitalise the Silangkitang Fish Seed Centre’s Muara Installation. According to Josua, the Purbatua Fish Seed Centre will produce freshwater fish seeds such as catfish, carp, and tilapia, which are the main commodities for fish farmers in North Tapanuli. The availability of these seeds is expected to accelerate the recovery of fish farming businesses affected by the disaster. Josua stressed that every programme was selected based on community needs while considering budget effectiveness. The programme details were presented during an assistance session on the utilisation of the additional TKD, held by the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force (Satgas PRR) together with the Directorate General of Regional Finance Development of the Ministry of Home Affairs at the North Tapanuli Regent’s Office. Kastorius Sinaga, Special Staff to the Minister of Home Affairs for Politics and Media, proposed the establishment of a media centre to serve as a public communication hub and a platform to assist affected MSMEs, aiming to prevent hoaxes and help promote their products.