Deputy Speaker of DPR Calls Irrigation Development a Strategic Investment for People's Economy

This assistance serves as a crucial momentum in efforts to strengthen national food security while affirming the state’s commitment to farmers. Sari Yuliati emphasised that the construction and rehabilitation of irrigation networks is not merely a physical project, but a strategic investment that directly touches the lifeline of the people’s economy. According to her, APBN fund allocations for the agricultural sector must be ensured to be on target and deliver tangible impacts on increasing farmer productivity. “This irrigation assistance is not just about channelling water to the fields, but about ensuring our farmers are no longer dependent on the seasons and can sustainably increase their harvests,” she stated during the handover in Penujak on Sunday (03/05/2026). The legislator from the Nusa Tenggara Barat II electoral district highlighted that classic problems such as uneven water distribution, damaged irrigation infrastructure, and minimal maintenance have long been serious obstacles for farmers. Therefore, the Indonesian House of Representatives will continue to monitor the use of state funds to ensure they do not stop at ceremonies but are truly felt by the community. She also reminded that programmes funded by the APBN must be accompanied by strict supervision and active community participation. Without that, the potential for budget leakages and stalled projects will continue to haunt agricultural development. “The state is already present through the APBN; now what is needed is collective commitment from local governments, farmer groups, and the community to maintain and optimally utilise it,” she asserted. Furthermore, she hopes this irrigation assistance will drive an increase in the cropping index in the Praya Barat region, so that farmers can harvest not just once or twice a year but more productively. Thus, farmer welfare will improve, and regional food security will be strengthened. The handover of this assistance also serves as a reminder that the success of government programmes is not measured merely by the amount of funds disbursed, but by how much impact it has on the lives of the people, especially those at the forefront of national food production.