By: Gavin Asadit*
The Indonesian government continues to reinforce its commitment to achieving national food self-sufficiency. One of the key strategic efforts being accelerated is the modernization of agricultural infrastructure, particularly irrigation systems and water resource management. This aligns with Indonesia’s long-term development vision toward Golden Indonesia 2045, focusing on food sovereignty and national resilience.
Given the country’s diverse geography and the increasing threat of extreme climate events, Indonesia needs robust and adaptive agricultural infrastructure. Through Presidential Instruction No. 2 of 2025, the government is expediting the development, rehabilitation, and management of irrigation networks and other water infrastructure across 14 priority provinces. These areas were selected based on their strategic food production potential and food security urgency, including provinces in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, and Papua.
This initiative is not merely political rhetoric. In the 2025 State Budget, the government allocated over IDR 14 trillion for water infrastructure projects, covering the construction of reservoirs, rehabilitation of irrigation channels, provision of water pumps, and development of shallow wells. The objective is to increase the area of productive farmland, accelerate the cropping intensity index, and ensure reliable water access for farmers throughout the planting seasons.
The Ministry of Public Works, through the Directorate General of Water Resources (DGWR), is leading the implementation of this program. DGWR Director General Lilik Retno Cahyadiningsih stated that the government is targeting water use efficiency at USD 0.43 per cubic meter and increasing irrigated rice fields to 62.37% of the national total by 2029. Irrigation services sourced from reservoirs are also projected to rise to 16.57% of total national rice field coverage.
Earlier, Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo highlighted the critical role of water infrastructure in supporting national food security. He emphasized the need for resilient water systems—both physically and strategically—to respond to urbanization and climate change.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the Ministry of Agriculture is also intensifying coordination with regional governments via the Strategic Command for Agricultural Development (Kostratani). This system integrates data, technology, and farmer institutions to maximize the benefits of new infrastructure.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), these efforts have already yielded results. By mid-2025, Indonesia’s national rice production reached 21.76 million tons, marking a 14.5% increase from the same period last year. National rice reserves also reached a 57-year record high of 4 million tons. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects Indonesia’s total rice production for 2025 to hit 34.6 million tons, surpassing the government’s initial targets.
Nevertheless, significant challenges remain. Extended droughts due to El Niño and environmental degradation pose serious threats to food production. To address this, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian has instructed all regional heads to repair damaged irrigation, install more bore wells and water pumps, and prepare local food reserves. Regional governments have also been directed to enhance cooperation with State Logistics Agency (Bulog) for harvest procurement and price stabilization.
Acknowledging limitations in funding and technical resources, the government is expanding Public-Private Partnership (PPP) schemes to finance agricultural infrastructure projects, including the construction of dams, modern irrigation systems, and tech-based storage facilities. Private investment is expected to accelerate infrastructure development while generating rural employment opportunities.
In the context of sustainable development, the success of agricultural infrastructure is measured not only by the number of facilities built, but also by their durability and long-term effectiveness. To this end, the government is strengthening evaluation and maintenance systems through data-driven approaches. The Ministry of Public Works and Housing, for instance, now uses satellite technology and geospatial mapping to monitor irrigation effectiveness in real time.
Agricultural modernization is also a core component of this infrastructure strategy. The government has established the Agricultural Assembly and Modernization Agency (BrMP) to standardize the use of agricultural machinery (alsintan), precision farming systems, and environmental sensors for weather and soil. Collaboration between BrMP, universities, and research institutions is expected to accelerate the transformation of traditional farming into efficient digital agriculture.
The national food self-sufficiency program is not a short-term project, but a long-term vision to make Indonesia self-reliant in meeting its food needs. Infrastructure modernization is the foundation of this vision—not only to strengthen the agricultural sector, but also to ensure farmer welfare, economic resilience, and social stability.
With increasingly solid infrastructure and integrated policies, Indonesia appears to be on the right track toward achieving food self-sufficiency. While challenges persist—from extreme weather and land conversion to water governance conflicts—the synergy between central and local governments, along with active engagement from communities and the private sector, makes the vision of turning Indonesia into a global food hub ever more attainable
