Ministry of Public Works Prepares 400 Water Pumps to Support Agriculture During Dry Season

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, stated that his ministry is preparing around 400 water pump units to support agricultural pump irrigation in the face of a potential dry season due to the Godzilla El Niño phenomenon. Dody said that this number is temporary and will continue to be increased according to field needs so that water distribution to rice fields can run optimally during the dry period in various regions of Indonesia. “Many, yesterday the pumps (prepared) 400 units, yes, but we will keep adding. So, for now 400 units but we will keep adding,” Dody said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday. Dody emphasised that the provision of pumps is carried out by considering coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture to avoid programme overlaps, so that government interventions can run effectively and on target in every region, especially in major rice production centres. “Because the Ministry of Agriculture is also preparing the same items. So, we don’t want any overlapping,” he said. According to him, the division of roles between ministries is key so that each can focus on different working areas without programme duplication in providing agricultural pump irrigation facilities. “We keep coordinating, where the Ministry of Agriculture works, we won’t work there. If we work there, the Ministry of Agriculture won’t work there,” Dody explained. In addition to providing water pumps, he also stressed the importance of building tertiary irrigation networks to ensure that the water channelled can be utilised maximally by agricultural lands that need it. “But for us, I ask my colleagues not to just pump groundwater, but also to build the tertiary irrigation network so that the water we channel is more effective and efficient for irrigating rice fields,” he said. With adequate irrigation networks, Dody added, water distribution is expected to be more effective and efficient, thereby supporting increased agricultural productivity, especially in areas dependent on rainfall. “Our hope is that rain-fed rice fields can at least harvest twice a year. If possible three times, alhamdulillah,” said Dody. Previously, the Minister of Agriculture and Head of the National Food Agency, Andi Amran Sulaiman, stated that his side is collaborating with the Ministry of Public Works to repair irrigation networks in the face of drought threats due to potential extreme El Niño. This step is taken as a pre-emptive effort to ensure that water availability for agricultural lands remains maintained amid risks of reduced rainfall that could disrupt national food production. He hopes that this collaboration can strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector through irrigation infrastructure improvements, making water distribution more effective while minimising the impact of prolonged dry seasons.