Water pumping scheme brings hope for food security

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JAKARTA (ANTARA) – Farmers in Kelendowa Hono village, Gundangreho sub-district, Karanganyar regency, Central Java are currently feeling optimistic. This is because the government is currently strengthening the water pumping program, which has raised hopes for an increase in the planting index (IP) – from once a year to twice or more.

“We hope to be able to harvest two or three times a year. Currently, we can only harvest once,” said Setu Wibowo, a farmer in Krendowa Hono village.

Isar, a farmer in Bone regency, South Sulawesi province, said the need for water is urgent as there has been no rain to irrigate rice fields in the highlands.

He was therefore grateful to the government for taking timely action to implement the water pumping plan to meet the water needs of the area.

Pumping is a rice irrigation scheme that involves installing a system of pipes to direct water from certain sources to farmland to ensure water supply during the dry season.

By pumping water, farmers can apply additional irrigation when needed to prevent plant water shortages, improve soil fertility, and maintain yield quality, which is important for maintaining food supply, which in turn affects market price stability.

Climate change is a major challenge facing the country’s agricultural sector. As an agricultural country, Indonesia has great potential in the agricultural sector, but often faces challenges such as climate change, drought and unequal water distribution, as the existing traditional irrigation systems are often insufficient and dependent on weather conditions.

Through pumping schemes, water is pumped to farmland from the nearest water source (such as a river, lake or borehole), reducing dependence on rainfall.

Pump distribution

Currently, the government is distributing water pumps across the country in a centralized manner to support farmers in carrying out four-season production activities and achieve the goal of increasing national production.

The government planned to distribute 75,000 water pumps to some farmlands, but in reality at least 25,000 were distributed.

According to estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture, the water pumps currently distributed can irrigate at least 500 hectares of land. Based on this calculation, 500,000 hectares of land can produce 2.5 million to 5 million tons of rice, with an average yield of 5 to 10 tons per hectare.

This will certainly help reduce imports, which were recorded at 2.2 million tonnes in January-May 2024.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has expressed optimism that the pumping plan will bring major benefits, especially in national food production as many countries are currently experiencing a drop in rice production due to drought.

According to him, many countries that previously exported rice are currently using their rice to meet domestic demand.

Agriculture Minister Andy Amran Suleiman said the water pumping plan was the only quick solution to address the impact of this year’s dry season.

The Meteorological, Climate and Geophysical Bureau (BMKG) had previously predicted heat waves and drought in July, August, September and October this year.

Suleiman therefore expressed hope that the pumping scheme would not only solve the problem of insufficient water supply during the dry season, but also increase productivity and cropping indices in future seasons, thereby improving farmers’ welfare.

This is expected to have a multiplier effect on the rural economy. When farmers have more stable or higher incomes, they are likely to acquire more advanced agricultural technologies, thereby improving the efficiency and continuity of agricultural production.

Government efforts

To optimize the pumping schedule, the Ministry of Agriculture is moving quickly to strengthen cooperation with provinces and district governors so that upland rice fields can be cultivated in time.

Collaboration with local governments is important to ensure that water pumps are accurately allocated and meet local needs.

Interior Minister Mohammad Tito Karnavian has asked local governments to directly inspect the water pumps distributed by the Ministry of Agriculture. He stressed that the pumps will bring great benefits to national food production.

The Ministry of Agriculture is also coordinating with other ministries and agencies, such as the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, to strengthen the program.

The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing also plays a key role in providing the infrastructure required for the pumping scheme.

Minister Suleiman confirmed that he has coordinated with the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Basuki Hadimuryono, to help optimize water use in agriculture by improving irrigation conditions in several areas.

In addition to distributing the pumps, the Ministry of Agriculture also provides training and technical guidance to farmers on how to operate the pumps effectively and efficiently, including good water management.

The ministry is carrying out regular monitoring and evaluation of the use of the pumps to ensure the project is progressing as planned and providing maximum benefits.

With continued government support and active participation of farmers, water pumping projects can become an important pillar in ensuring adequate and sustainable food supply in Indonesia.

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