Government to Build Groundwater Irrigation Network
Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo has emphasised the government’s efforts to boost agricultural productivity through the development of a Groundwater Irrigation Network (JIAT), particularly in areas that have long relied on rainfall.
Dody noted that many regions are experiencing a decline in water supply due to the suboptimal functioning of local government-owned dams. Minimal maintenance has reduced water flow capacity, leaving paddy fields inadequately irrigated.
“This situation means farmers can only harvest once a year. With JIAT, we aim to enable up to three harvests,” Dody stated during an inspection of JIAT infrastructure in Ketitang Village, Nogosari Subdistrict, Boyolali Regency, Central Java, on Sunday, 29 March 2026.
Dody explained that constructing deep wells approximately 120 metres deep with a discharge of 12 litres per second is deemed sufficient to irrigate around 20 hectares of land. However, he assessed that water distribution still needs enhancement through the development of tertiary irrigation networks to make it more efficient and equitable.
In addition to irrigation, the government plans to improve agricultural access via the Presidential Instruction (Inpres) for Regional Roads programme to support the mobility of harvest yields.
In preparation for potential drought due to the El Niño phenomenon, Dody said the government has prepared several mitigation measures. One of them is the Ministry of Public Works implementing a pump irrigation programme in the middle of the year.
According to Dody, this step is taken to maintain the sustainability of water supply, especially in areas dependent on dams that are vulnerable to reduced discharge during the dry season.
The JIAT programme will be focused on food production centres such as West Java, Central Java, and East Java, and expanded to several regions outside Java.
“This initiative is expected to increase planting intensity and maintain national rice production stability amid climate change challenges,” he stated.
Dody also reminded of the importance of preserving groundwater resources. He stressed that water utilisation must be carried out efficiently to avoid long-term impacts such as land subsidence.
“Groundwater must be used wisely to remain available for future generations,” he said.
On that occasion, Dody affirmed that all programmes being implemented are part of President Prabowo Subianto’s directives in achieving national food self-sufficiency. He emphasised that the success of development is inseparable from central government policy support and funding.
With these various programmes, the government is optimistic that national food production will remain stable and capable of facing future drought challenges.