Draft Government Regulation on Irrigation to Synchronize Tertiary Network Management

The Government is currently finalizing the draft Government Regulation (“RPP”) on irrigation as mandated under Law No. 17 of 2019 on Water Resources, as amended by Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 2 of 2022 on Job Creation (collectively referred to as “Law 17/2019”). This initiative is intended to strengthen technical synchronization through the principle of a unified system, or Single Management Irrigation (“SMI”), which covers management from intake structures through to tertiary irrigation networks.

“With regard to the irrigation RPP, it is currently in the finalization stage,” stated Juari, Director of Water Resources at the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (“Ministry of PPN/Bappenas”).

One of the key provisions in the draft regulation concerns the transfer of responsibility for the management of tertiary irrigation networks to the Government, which was previously borne by farmers. Given that tertiary irrigation networks may extend to between two and ten times the length of the primary canals, strong coordination between the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Agriculture (“Kementan”) is considered necessary. 

The involvement of the Kementan is aligned with Presidential Regulation No. 192 of 2024 on the Ministry of Agriculture, which mandates the Kementan to manage tertiary irrigation systems in support of the national food self-sufficiency target.