Gov’t Continues to Build Dams to Boost Agricultural Centers Productivity
Raknamo Dam in Kupang regency, East Nusa Tenggara province. (Photo source: pu.go.id)
In a bid to boost productivity of agricultural centers Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono Friday (26/03/2021) said that the Government continues to build dams in various regions, followed with the development and management of irrigation networks.
According to the Minister, it is expected that the increasing agricultural productivity can also boost the economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the record, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) have set the target of building 500 thousand hectares of irrigation and the rehabilitation of 2.5 million hectares of irrigation networks from 2020 to 2024 all over Indonesia to support national food security and water availability, one of which is carried out in West Nusa Tenggara province (NTB) and East Nusa Tenggara province (NTT).
Based on Regulation of Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Number 14 of 2015, there are sixteen irrigation areas covering 70.874 hectares that belong to the authority of the Central Government in West Nusa Tenggara province and as many as 26 irrigation areas covering 106.689 hectares in East Nusa Tenggara province.
In the fiscal year of 2020, agricultural infrastructure support was carried out in West Nusa Tenggara with a budget of Rp24,47 billion. The budget was used to rehabilitate four irrigation areas, namely Tanggik, Batujai, Jurang Batu, and Surabaya and also to build two irrigation areas with a budget of Rp108,41 billion namely Rababaka Complex covering an area of 381 hectares and Bintang Bano covering an area of 60,23 hectares.
Irrigation network rehabilitation program in West Nusa Tenggara continued in 2021 by rehabilitating eight irrigation areas worth of Rp46,06 billion, including 100 hectares in Tanggik, 110 hectares in Pelaparado, 125 hectares in Batujai, 200 hectares in Jurang Batu, 125 hectares in Surabaya, 100 hectares in Rababaka Complex, 125 hectares in Katua Complex, and Batu Bulan.
Furthermore, the Government also built two irrigation networks with a budget of Rp297,45 billion, including 640 hectares of Rababaka Complex and 127 hectares of Bintaro Banu.
Meanwhile, in East Nusa Tenggara, agricultural infrastructure support in 2020 was implemented by rehabilitating seven irrigation areas with a budget of Rp73,1 billion, including Nggorang, Hobotopo and So’a, Aesao, Lembor, Satarbeleng, Waedingin, and Haekesak and by building five irrigation areas with a budget of Rp82,3 billion namely Kodi, Baing, Raknamo, Wae Laku and, Wae Dingin.
Rehabilitation of irrigation networks in East Nusa Tenggara continued in 2021 by rehabilitating eight irrigation areas with a budget of Rp119.5 billion, including Nggorang, Lembor, Netemnanu, Tilong, Mbay Kanan, Satarbeleng, Wae Dingin, and Nebe.
In addition, there was also the construction of an irrigation area in East Sumba regency with an area of 100 hectares amounts Rp32,25 billion. (PR of Public Works and Public Housing Ministry/UN) (AP/EP)
