New Step for PRR Task Force: Integrating Watershed, Irrigation, and Rice Field Recovery in Aceh

Optimising recovery is more effective when coordinated integration is applied across interconnected sectors. Rehabilitating rice fields, for example, will not quickly restore land productivity if the dams and irrigation networks that supply water have not yet been repaired. For this reason, the sequence and timing of each activity need to be aligned so that recovery proceeds effectively.

This approach is being applied by the Task Force for the Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) in Aceh through thematic programme coordination. The aim is to synergise central and regional government programmes while aligning the handling of various related parties, particularly agriculture, irrigation systems and watersheds (DAS).

The step was taken through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Following Natural Disasters in Aceh Province for the Agriculture, Irrigation Systems and Watershed Sectors, held in Banda Aceh on Friday, 7 August 2026. The forum brought together ministries and agencies, provincial and district/city governments, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and universities to compare data, programmes and problems faced in the field.

In this way, recovery is not only measured by how many hectares of rice fields have been rehabilitated or how many irrigation networks have been repaired, but also includes mapping the interconnections between each activity so that the entire production chain can function again. This forum is very important because the complexity of the problems is evident in a number of districts and cities.

In North Aceh, severely damaged rice fields reached 4,679 hectares, lightly damaged 7,189 hectares and moderately damaged 6,447 hectares. Some severely damaged land is buried under mud 1.5 to 2 metres deep, and the soil structure in a number of locations has even changed.

This land damage is accompanied by irrigation problems. In Jambo Aye, the weir and carrier channels have suffered severe damage. Meanwhile in Sawang, river normalisation and irrigation network works are still under way. Some residents even temporarily closed channels on their own initiative using jute sacks so that water could flow to their land.

In Pidie Jaya, around 1,507 hectares of agricultural land were affected. Around 312 hectares of lightly damaged land have been handled, while severe damage has not yet been addressed. Almost all irrigation networks in the area have also suffered severe damage. The local government is considering opening new rice fields if some severely damaged land can no longer be restored.

These problems show that recovery in each sector is interconnected. Rehabilitating rice fields does not automatically make land ready for planting if water is not yet available. Likewise, repairing irrigation networks is not enough if the land they serve is still covered in sediment.

The government has in fact been carrying out recovery through a number of programmes. According to Ministry of Agriculture records as of 5 August 2026, Technical Design Documents/Survey, Investigation and Design (DRT/SID) have reached 39,409 hectares, or 75 per cent of the 52,394-hectare target. Construction has been carried out on 16,780 hectares, or 32 per cent.

Four areas — Pidie Jaya, Aceh Jaya, Southwest Aceh and Langsa City — have reached 100 per cent of contracts for land recovery activities. However, overall construction realisation in these four areas is still around 18 per cent.

The Ministry of Agriculture has also distributed post-disaster rice seed assistance for 26,177 hectares worth around Rp9.67 billion. Of this area, planting has taken place on 10,416 hectares.

In the plantation sector, an additional budget of Rp328.08 billion has been directed towards recovering 15,718 hectares in eight districts. Assistance includes seeds, fertiliser, land preparation and the creation of planting holes for coffee, cocoa, rubber and coconut commodities.

Meanwhile, emergency response handling by the Sumatra I River Basin Agency (BWS) has reached 87.42 per cent. The work covers rivers, estuaries, irrigation areas, weirs, boreholes and sabo dams.

Nevertheless, recovery progress is not uniform. Bireuen is one of the areas with relatively advanced progress. Rehabilitation of moderately damaged rice fields covering around 677 hectares has been completed, while land optimisation of around 1,943 hectares has also been finished. The local government is now proposing a second phase of rehabilitation covering 1,019 hectares.

West Aceh has also recorded progress of around 75 per cent for optimisation of affected rice fields involving 96 farmer groups in eight sub-districts. Rehabilitation of tertiary irrigation networks at 14 points has been 100 per cent completed.

Meanwhile, a report from East Aceh reveals that physical progress in one sector does not always mean the entire system has recovered. The district has completed the first phase of rice field rehabilitation carried out by the TNI covering around 1,770 hectares. But in Pante Bidari and Simpang Ulim, water cannot yet enter optimally because secondary channels are still problematic. In Ulee Gajah, high sediment levels also mean irrigation channels are not yet functioning optimally.

In Langsa City, land optimisation has only reached 16.32 per cent. One reason is the planting season, which means farmers are not yet willing to have their land rehabilitated. On the other hand, the Krueng Langsa River, which is under provincial authority, has not yet been normalised, so flooding still occurs easily.

Gayo Lues faces a different problem. Handling of lightly damaged rice fields has reached 98 per cent, while data on around 450 hectares of moderately damaged land is ready. However, around 1,208 hectares of severely damaged land cannot yet be worked on because it is still awaiting implementation guidelines.

In addition to physical works, data validation is also a challenge. The provision of certified seeds and verification of Prospective Farmers and Prospective Locations (CPCL) must be carried out within a limited time and with a wide target coverage. The government continues to accelerate data and coordinate validation so that work is not held up at the preparation stage.

Aceh Besar reported that around 2,000 hectares of rice fields in 19 sub-districts were affected by drought. Of the first-phase land recovery target of around 2,303 hectares, optimisation has reached 1,087 hectares, or 47.20 per cent. BWS has assisted through the loan of pumps, while additional borehole points have also been proposed to strengthen irrigation for rain-fed land.

In Aceh Tamiang, the need for river normalisation is also directly linked to agriculture. High sedimentation has made the Tamiang River increasingly shallow, while damaged primary and secondary channels hamper water distribution to rice fields. The local government is pushing for the construction of water sources that draw directly from the river, as well as pumps or boreholes to deal with drought.

Mapping for Solutions

These various problems form the basis for mapping to determine handling measures. Safrizal Zakaria Ali, Head of the Regional Coordination Post for the PRR Task Force, outlined a number of follow-up actions that should be carried out so that coordination among all parties can accelerate rice field recovery in Aceh.

First, regarding authority for irrigation network construction. Regional governments that have their own budgets and wish to work on networks under central authority can coordinate with BWS, including in the preparation of designs. “This step is intended so that acceleration does not create procedural and audit problems,” said Safrizal.

For irrigation networks outside central authority, district and city governments can still propose handling through the Presidential Instruction scheme. Meanwhile, rain-fed areas without irrigation networks can propose boreholes. One well is projected to be able to irrigate around 20 hectares, with the local government preparing land for a pump house.

Universities are also involved to address problems that require scientific study. The characteristics of post-disaster mud and sediment need to be researched to determine whether severely damaged land is still worth rehabilitating. In certain locations, upland rice, secondary crops or plantation commodities may be alternatives.

The involvement of these various parties is an important part of ensuring that every rehabilitation and reconstruction activity moves in one direction and is coordinated through the PRR Task Force. “We act as facilitators, directors, supervisors, and also help untangle various problems that arise in the field,” Safrizal stressed.

This function as facilitator and supervisor is also a commitment of PRR Task Force Head Tito Karnavian, which he has emphasised on various occasions. “I will continue to push for the acceleration of rehabilitation and reconstruction recovery so that it is truly visible to the public,” said Tito.