Kamijoro Dam will be able to irrigate 2,370 hectares of paddy field in Bantul District, so the planting intensity will increase to 270 percent, from 205 percent earlier
Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is optimistic about the newly built Kamijoro Dam in the Special Province of Yogyakarta boosting Indonesia's food security, as it will be able to sustainably irrigate 2,370 hectares of farm land.

The president inaugurated the Rp229-billion dam located in Kaliwiru Hamlet, Tuksno Village, Sentolo Sub-district, Kulonprogo District, Yogyakarta Special Province, on Tuesday.

Jokowi arrived at the Kamijoro Dam at around 9:30 a.m. local time in the company of Minister of Public Works and People's Housing Basuki Hadimuljono and Governor of Yogyakarta Special Province Sri Sultan HB X.

"Kamijoro Dam will be able to irrigate 2,370 hectares of paddy fields in Bantul District, so the planting intensity will increase to 270 percent, from 205 percent earlier," he stated.

The president highlighted the importance of the dam in supplying raw water to the Yogyakarta International Airport and meeting the water requirements in the districts of Bantul and Kulon Progo and likely Yogyakarta City.

"As I observe, Kamijoro Dam is also equipped with a playground, an open plaza. I know it must be developed into a tourist destination," he noted.

Jokowi noticed that a bridge was also built in the vicinity of the dam to connect Kulon Progo District to Bantul District.

"The bridge can shorten the distance between the two cities by nearly five kilometers," he remarked.

He expressed optimism that the people would be able to benefit from the dam. Farmers can lead a prosperous life, and economy can grow around the dam, he stated.

"We hope the local people's income would increase as increasingly more number of tourists will visit here. The Yogyakarta governor told me that during the weekend, parking income can reach up to Rp17 million. The figure is remarkably high," he added.

The dam was built with water from Progo River in Sentolo Sub-district, Kulon Progo District.

Related news: President Jokowi boards bike to visit Semarang's Old Town
Related news: Jokowi highlights rationale behind expediting biodiesel program
Related news: Jokowi targets replanting 500 thousand ha of palm oil plantations

Translator: Sutarmi/Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2019