“Do not shift regional funds to other uses just because the central government has already allocated a budget for irrigation,” Sudaryono said during the launch of the Senator Peduli Ketahanan Pangan (Senator Cares for Food Security) program in Bengkulu on Saturday.
He explained that President Prabowo Subianto has introduced a new policy that removes the previous division of authority in irrigation development.
Under the new system, the central government, provinces, and districts can build or repair any part of irrigation networks that are damaged or have not yet been developed.
Before this policy, he added, irrigation projects were often stalled due to overlapping responsibilities.
The central government was responsible for primary channels and reservoirs, provinces managed secondary channels, and districts handled tertiary ones.
As a result, irrigation systems frequently failed to function because not all levels of government could allocate budgets at the same time.
“If the central government built its part but provinces and districts did not, the water would still not flow. A district might allocate funds for tertiary channels, the province for secondary ones, while the central government said the budget was not yet available, leaving irrigation systems unused,” he explained.
Sudaryono noted that President Prabowo has allocated Rp12 trillion to resolve irrigation problems nationwide and urged regions to maximize the funding through joint efforts.
“Do not divert regional funds when the central budget is already in place. To complete irrigation projects quickly, all parties must work together,” he said.
He stressed that proactive leadership from governors and district heads is essential to ensure irrigation development meets its targets and strengthens national food security.
“This process has been simplified. The president has allocated Rp12 trillion, work has already begun, and by next year around 80,000 irrigation points across Indonesia will be improved. Funding will continue until irrigation systems are fully completed,” he concluded.
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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