Agriculture Minister prepares 7,000 water pumps to help Central Java farmers tackle drought

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has prepared 7,000 water pumps to assist farmers in Central Java amid the threat of drought during this year’s dry season. “Pumps and pumping irrigation, help with everything. Do not let Central Java’s farmers lack pumps and water,” said Minister Amran Sulaiman in Brebes on Monday. At the groundbreaking ceremony for an integrated dairy cattle farm in Larangan District, Brebes Regency, the Minister expressed appreciation to Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi for his performance in supporting the national food sector. Governor Ahmad Luthfi was also considered to be continuously fighting for the fate of farmers amidst the threat of a prolonged drought, ensuring that agricultural productivity in the province is maintained. In addition to helping provide water pumps, the Ministry of Agriculture will also disburse aid in the form of corn and rice seeds as well as agricultural tools, such as tractors. “Have the 2,000 pumps arrived yet? I will add another five thousand later. So, 7,000 for now. Water is one of the important factors to maintain farmers’ productivity,” the Minister said. “The central government’s target for 2026 is to increase to 10.5 million tonnes,” he added. To achieve this target, the government, together with regents and mayors, is committed to collaborating with the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency to protect agricultural land or protected rice fields. “Central Java is a national food barn, so its agricultural land must be maintained. Therefore, we request that water pump assistance be provided for Central Java to maintain the province as a national food barn,” said Governor Ahmad Luthfi.