“This is our commitment to supporting national food security and achieving self-sufficiency as outlined by President Prabowo Subianto,” Special Staff to the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Herzaky Mahendra Putra, remarked here on Monday.
Putra, accompanied by Head of the Kalimantan River Region Office (BWSK) M. Tahid, conducted a working visit to Sambas to hear firsthand the farmers' main concerns.
Some of the farmers mainly raised issues about substandard irrigation systems, which have caused crop failures and reduced productivity.
The working visit covered Penakalan Village in Sejangkung Sub-district, Tri Kembang Village in Galing Sub-district, and Lumbang Village in Sambas Sub-district.
These areas have significant agricultural potential but often suffer from flooding during the rainy season and drought in the dry season.
He stressed that the irrigation issues would be addressed at the central government level, including by involving the Public Works Ministry.
He noted that proper irrigation infrastructure could increase the cropping index of food plants from one to two cycles per year while also lowering risks of losses from extreme weather.
In Penakalan Village, Sartomo, the village head, stated that some 126 hectares of farmland are frequently flooded, leading to crop failures or harvests as low as 1.3 tons of unhusked rice per hectare.
Similarly, Tri Kembang Village Head Nurrochim expressed hope that rehabilitating the irrigation system would improve water flow and support farming activities. The village's about 127 hectares of farmland produce up to three tons per hectare per season, with the potential for two harvests annually.
“If the irrigation system is improved, production could rise significantly to 10–12 tons per year,” he stated.
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Translator: Rendra, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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