Regent Deploys Water Tankers to Irrigate Rice Fields to Maintain Production

Severe drought currently affecting several regions in Indonesia is threatening agricultural production. Various efforts are being made by local governments to maintain output. The Sidenreng Rappang (Sidrap) Regency administration has deployed water tankers to irrigate rice fields that are beginning to be affected by the dry season, so that rice production can be sustained. “The deployment of this water tanker fleet is to supply water to agricultural areas experiencing drought. This step is being taken to maintain agricultural productivity while supporting the national food self-sufficiency target,” said Sidrap Regent Syaharuddin Alrif when confirmed from Makassar on Sunday, 19 July 2026. He stated that the water distribution was a response to declining water discharge due to drought in several agricultural areas, which could potentially disrupt the planting season. In addition to distributing water using tankers, the local government is also optimising pump systems and coordinating with various parties to ensure the water supply for farmers is maintained. He said the Sidrap Regency administration will continue to monitor the condition of agricultural land and accelerate the handling of affected locations. Beyond water aid, the Sidrap Regency administration is also encouraging the acceleration of irrigation network rehabilitation and the optimisation of water sources to meet farmers’ needs sustainably. Sidrap Regency has a total raw rice field area of approximately 52,227 hectares. Of this total, the planting area is divided into around 34,000 hectares of irrigated fields, with the remainder being rain-fed fields. Through early intervention in these agricultural areas, the Sidrap Regency administration hopes these swift measures can prevent crop failure, maintain the continuity of the planting season, and preserve the region’s contribution as one of the rice production centres in South Sulawesi and Indonesia.