Agam District, West Sumatra — Indonesia is prioritizing repairs to undamaged rice field irrigation systems as part of a broader push for food self-sufficiency by 2026, according to Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo. It’s a strategic move—focusing on what *can* produce now, rather than chasing fixes for fields with an uncertain future.
Securing the Harvest: Indonesia’s Irrigation Focus
The government is prioritizing irrigation repairs for rice fields unaffected by recent disasters to ensure a stable domestic food supply.
- Indonesia aims to achieve food self-sufficiency by 2026.
- Repairs will focus on irrigation systems serving rice fields not impacted by disasters.
- The Public Works Ministry will use drones to assess and repair fields buried in mud.
- Decisions on repairing severely damaged fields await guidance from the Agriculture Minister.
“As long as the rice fields are not affected, we will definitely fix the irrigation first,” Hanggodo said Wednesday while inspecting infrastructure projects damaged by disasters that occurred in late November 2025. The minister was accompanied by the Governor of West Sumatra and other officials during the visit.
Q: What’s the government’s main goal with these irrigation repairs?
A: To guarantee a consistent domestic food supply while the country recovers from recent disasters, and to lay the groundwork for achieving food self-sufficiency by 2026 through proactive infrastructure investment.
The Public Works Ministry will also prioritize repairing irrigation for rice fields covered in mud, but deemed suitable for planting. The Agriculture Minister has indicated that the mud can eventually break down into humus, enriching the soil. However, repairs to fields with uncertain planting viability are on hold, pending direction from the Agriculture Minister. Concerns center around the potential for wasted resources if fields are ultimately unusable or require relocation.
Hanggodo noted that similar irrigation repair efforts in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces were previously suspended due to doubts about the long-term cultivability of the land. Currently, the ministry is accelerating repairs in areas where planting is already underway, aiming to complete the work before the harvest season. The Agriculture Minister will oversee the planting schedule, while the Public Works Ministry focuses on ensuring adequate irrigation.
The government is also working to restore 98,000 hectares of damaged rice fields in Sumatra, and is providing financial assistance to farmers to help with the restoration process.
