Peak Dry Season Predicted for August, PJT II Prepares Water Supply for Pantura Rice Fields

Perum Jasa Tirta II (PJT II) is strengthening anticipatory measures to maintain irrigation water supply ahead of the peak of the dry season, which is predicted to occur in August 2026. The effort aims to ensure that agricultural activities in the northern coastal region (Pantura) of West Java continue to run optimally and support national food production. Based on an updated seasonal forecast from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency in June 2026, most parts of Indonesia are expected to experience the peak of the dry season in August. This condition has prompted PJT II to strengthen coordination and water distribution management in the Jatiluhur Irrigation Area, a key pillar of national food production. As the manager of national strategic water resources, PJT II routinely holds discussions with the Water Resources Operation Coordination Team (TKOSDA), involving several regional units and hydroelectric power plant units. This coordination is carried out to ensure water availability is maintained in agricultural areas spread across the districts of Purwakarta, Karawang, Bekasi, Subang, and Indramayu. PJT II President Director Imam Santoso stated that planned water management is a crucial factor in maintaining agricultural productivity, especially when entering the dry season. According to him, food security cannot be separated from water security. Therefore, the company continues to take anticipatory steps and measured management to ensure irrigation water needs are met so that agricultural activities can run optimally. “Food security cannot be separated from water security. Therefore, PJT II continues to take anticipatory steps and measured management to ensure irrigation water needs are met so that agricultural activities can run optimally,” Imam said in a written statement on Thursday (25/6/2026). PJT II data shows that the realisation of irrigation water supply in the Jatiluhur Irrigation Area in May 2026 reached 231.33 cubic metres per second. This figure exceeded the planned supply or allocation set at 185.52 cubic metres per second. Of the total realisation, PJT II supplied 177.35 cubic metres per second to serve the West Tarum Canal, North Tarum Canal, East Tarum Canal, and the Cikao River. The water supply also supports the implementation of the 2026 Second Planting Season. As of May 2026, planting activity progress was recorded at nearly 30 percent of the target area of 211,541.90 hectares. Meanwhile, in the South Jatiluhur Irrigation Area, planting activity achievement has reached 93 percent of the target area of 28,099 hectares. Imam assessed that routine discussions with TKOSDA are an important instrument to ensure water resource operations run adaptively to climate dynamics and needs on the ground. Through this coordination, PJT II can anticipate the potential for a prolonged dry season while ensuring farmers receive an adequate water supply to maintain the productivity of agricultural land. He added that the Jatiluhur Irrigation Area has a strategic role in supporting the national food self-sufficiency programme. Therefore, the company is committed to maintaining the reliability of the water supply so that it can continue to support food production and public welfare. “The Jatiluhur Irrigation Area is not just an irrigation system, but is one of the backbones of national food security. Therefore, we are committed to maintaining the reliability of the water supply so that it can continue to support the achievement of food self-sufficiency and public welfare,” Imam said.