Massive dam development strengthens food security

This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.

Investor Daily - Pembangunan masif bendungan perkuat ketahanan pangan

18 October 2024

Jakarta, ID - The massive dam development over the past 10 years has successfully boosted productivity in the agriculture sector, thereby strengthening food security. This is evident from the increase in the national crop index.

However, both existing and upcoming dams must be optimised. This can be achieved by integrating the dam ecosystem, which consists of the upstream, the dam itself, and the downstream areas.

The upstream sector is responsible for supplying water. Preserving the environment in this area is crucial to reduce sedimentation. At this point, reforestation must be prioritised.

Meanwhile, the downstream sector includes agriculture. In this context, dam development must be accompanied by the improvement of irrigation networks.

This is crucial to ensure that water reaches the rice fields, enabling farmers to increase their productivity and support food security.

To achieve this aim, the Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Ministry, which is responsible for constructing dams, must coordinate with the Environment and

Forestry Ministry to preserve the environment. The PUPR Ministry must also work with the Agriculture Ministry to ensure the excellent condition of irrigation channels. Additionally, coordination with regional governments is essential to optimise dam utilisation.

The government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has been aggressively developing dams over the past 10 years. From 2015 to September 2024, the government has constructed and inaugurated 45 dams. Furthermore, by the end of this year, the government aims to inaugurate an additional 16 dams, bringing the total to 61 dams.

With 45 dams completed and inaugurated as of August 2024, the average rate of dam construction during President Jokowi's administration is four dams per year. This is twice the development rate of previous eras. From 1900 to 2014, a span of 114 years, a total of 231 dams were constructed, averaging only two dams per year.

The construction of 61 dams, either completed or set to be completed this year, is spread across Indonesia. On Sumatra Island, Aceh Province has four dams, North Sumatra Province has one dam, Riau Islands Province has one dam, South

Sumatra Province has one dam, and Lampung Province has two dams.
On Java Island, there are two dams in Banten Province, seven in West Java, seven in Central Java, and eight in East Java. Dam development is also being carried out on Bali Island with three dams, six in West Nusa Tenggara, and five in East Nusa Tenggara.

The increased number of dams has significantly impacted the overall national volume of dams. In 2014, the total dam capacity was 6.39 billion cubic metres (m³). By 2019, it had increased by 27.7% to 8.16 billion m³, and by 2023, it had soared by 106.4% to 16.84 billion m³. This means that during Jokowi’s administration, dam capacity has nearly tripled.

Endra S. Atmawidjaja, the Expert Staff to the PUPR Minister for Technology, Industry, and the Environment and the PUPR Ministry Spokesperson, stated that dam development is closely related to food security. The foundation of food security is to increase productivity.

He noted that Indonesia has 7.3 million hectares (ha) of rice fields. Of this total, only 11% are consistently irrigated and supplied with water from dams.

Over the last 10 years, he stated that the government has successfully increased agricultural productivity. This is evident from Indonesia’s crop index, which has risen from 1.7 to nearly 3.

“So, by constructing new dams, our capacity also increases. Rice fields that rely on rainwater can only be harvested once or 1.5 times a year, but with irrigation, they can be harvested two or three times. As I mentioned earlier, the crop index has increased from 1.5 to 2.5,” he said to BTV, cited on Friday (20/9/2024).

He stated that more dams are crucial to increasing water capacity, especially during the dry season. This is essential for ensuring national food security.

He noted that, typically during the dry season, farmers are unable to produce food, necessitating imports. Looking ahead, many countries are becoming increasingly protective, prioritising their domestic needs over exports.

“We cannot rely on other countries. So, we must become self-sufficient by preparing lands that can remain productive during the dry season,” he stated.

He stated that the water collected in dams is crucial due to climate change, which has made rainfall patterns unpredictable. The same applies to the intensity and duration of rain, which can lead to flooding. These dams can collect water, and during extreme downpours, they can hold back the water to prevent it from entering residential areas.

“We have built 53 dams out of our target of 61. The remaining eight will be continued during the administration of Prabowo-Gibran. Several will be completed in 2025, and one or two will be completed in 2026,” he stated.

In addition, he mentioned that dam development must also be accompanied by irrigation development, as these dams are intended to distribute the water they collect to rice fields. New irrigation networks established so far cover an area of 1.25 million hectares.

He stated that the government has also rehabilitated old irrigation networks that were built in the seventies and during the Dutch colonial period, covering an area of 4.5 million hectares. These efforts are all aimed at achieving food security.

“The problem now is whether there are still sufficient agricultural areas to support dam utilisation,” he stated.

Previously, President Joko Widodo asked relevant parties to build and organise primary, secondary, and tertiary irrigation channels to ensure that all reservoirs and dams can effectively distribute their water.

“Primary, secondary, and tertiary irrigation channels are essential to ensure that water from reservoirs and dams can reach rice fields, thereby increasing production. This can boost the number of harvests from once to three times a year, helping to maintain inflation,” Jokowi stated.

To address the prolonged drought caused by El Niño, Jokowi has requested that all rivers in Indonesia be inspected for the installation of pumps to supply water to rain-fed rice fields that are drying out.

“Water pumps in rivers can be used to pump water up to the rice fields, including from large, medium, and small rivers. Do not let the water flow into the sea, pump it immediately,” the President stated.

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman explained that the nearest water source to the rice fields, such as rivers or dams, must be utilised as effectively as possible, especially during a prolonged dry season. Rice fields that rely on technical irrigation can depend on water supply from rivers and dams, but rain-fed rice fields must be supported by pumps and pipes.

“During the dry season, the Agriculture Ministry is strengthening the water system with pumps and pipes, particularly for rice fields that rely on rainwater,” Amran stated.
 

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