JAKARTA, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's Ministry of Public Works is accelerating the completion of 15 dams under construction this fiscal year as part of the government's efforts to strengthen food security.
Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo said that dam development must go hand in hand with the construction and rehabilitation of irrigation networks to ensure long-term benefits.
"Dam construction must be accompanied by the development of connectivity channels and irrigation networks. With a sustainable water supply, agricultural productivity can increase and farmers' welfare will be boosted," Dody said.
The construction of the 15 dams is targeted for completion before 2029. Once operational, the dams are expected to expand irrigation service areas from 184,515 hectares to 263,055 hectares and increase the total planted area from 277,775 hectares to 483,163 hectares.
With improved irrigation, crop productivity is projected to rise from 1.4 million tons to 2.34 million tons annually. ■
