Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia after Providing Pumps for Irrigation of Rice Fields and Agriculture, at Bandan Hurip Village, S. Lampung Regency, Lampung Province, July 11, 2024

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

Yes, this is part of the preparation because we want to send large medical equipment that requires room preparation, electrical preparation, such as cath labs, mammograms, CT scans, and MRIs. What I see it will start in South Lampung, this September until next year. So indeed, the room that was prepared for the CT scan is already in process, and later I will ask the Regent, the Governor to prepare for the cath lab, mammogram, and everything else by the region. This is good, I think it’s good, good.

Journalist:

Regarding the pumping system, Sir, how is it for the next year?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

Yes, this pompanisasi (pumping system) is to anticipate if there is a long drought, heat waves, and we must get prepared so that farmers’ productivity and our rice production do not decrease because now all countries are experiencing decreased production due to heat waves and prolonged droughts. And I see that here, the irrigation is good. We draw the water from lower irrigation to enter the secondary, tertiary irrigation, so it can flow to the rice fields. We hope that what usually produces one harvest can become two, and what already has two harvests can become three. That’s what we hope.

Journalist:

(inaudible)

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

You may ask the Regent.

Journalist:

From the DPR there is a proposal regarding the revision of the Presidential Advisory Board (wantimpres) law?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

That is an initiative from the DPR, ask the DPR. That is an initiative of the DPR.

Journalist:

Sir, you stopped on the road earlier, what was that about?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

Oh, checking the road earlier. Checking the road, there were holes, many were damaged, so I immediately ordered the Minister of Public Works.

Journalist:

Thank you, Sir.

(AS/MUR)