Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian directed regional governments to expedite the installation of water pumps and improve irrigation systems to sustain food production during the upcoming dry season.
He issued the directives during a coordination meeting on preparations for advancing the national food self-sufficiency drive amid the 2025 dry season. The meeting took place in his office in Jakarta on Tuesday.
"This is about ensuring sufficient water throughout June, July, August, and September--a critical period during which several regions are expected to experience the dry season," he said, according to a statement received here the same day.
Karnavian emphasized the importance of synergy between the central and regional governments in solidifying primary, secondary, and tertiary irrigation networks, as mandated by Presidential Instruction No. 2 of 2025, which states that reliable irrigation is key for food self-sufficiency.
He said the instruction is a legal basis for the central, provincial, district, and municipal governments to work in collaboration—not only to advance the self-sufficiency goal but also enhance local farmers' welfare.
Bearing this in mind, the minister urged local agriculture offices and public works offices across the country to contribute to the cause.
"I want heads of agriculture offices at the provincial, district, and municipal levels to check on rice fields requiring water in their respective regions," he told regional governments.
"To heads of local public work offices, it is important for you to inspect water availability and irrigation," he added.
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Karnavian said that follow-up meetings will focus on these matters.
Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo, who joined the meeting virtually, highlighted that his office has carried out irrigation enhancement projects at several locations in anticipation of the dry season.
He added that his ministry is focusing on the installation of water pumps at a depth of over 50 meters underground to avoid the risk of land subsidence.
"In other words, we are also paying attention to the environmental aspect," he continued.
The minister also emphasized his team's commitment to taking strategic measures to support President Prabowo Subianto's food sufficiency push.
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Translator: Narda M, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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