Tuesday, 08 September 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The North Sumatra Provincial Government is continuing efforts to optimize previously unproductive irrigation areas in a bid to expand agricultural land cultivated by local communities. In 2026, the provincial government is working on 21 irrigation areas with the aim of making around 5,050 additional hectares of agricultural land productive.
The program is part of the North Sumatra Provincial Government's efforts to maximize the potential of water resources while increasing productivity in the agricultural sector. The government is targeting an increase in productive agricultural land from the current approximately 36,000 hectares to around 41,000 hectares.The Acting Head of the North Sumatra Water Resources Agency, Gibson Panjaitan, said the provincial government had proposed a budget of Rp489 billion to organize and optimize the irrigation areas.
"We have proposed a budget of Rp489 billion. With this budget, we can already carry out the necessary reorganization measures. This year, we are working on 21 irrigation areas, which are expected to increase productive agricultural land by another 5,050 hectares from the current 36,000 hectares. We hope that productive agricultural land will eventually grow from 36,000 hectares by an additional 5,050 hectares to 41,000 hectares," Gibson said during a press briefing organized by the North Sumatra Communication and Informatics Agency at the North Sumatra Dekranasda Pavilion, at the Governor's Office on Jalan Diponegoro in Medan, Wednesday, August 26, 2026.Of this total, only around 36,000 hectares are currently being productively cultivated by local communities. This indicates that significant land potential remains available and can be developed by improving and reorganizing irrigation networks.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government is therefore directing construction and rehabilitation efforts toward several irrigation areas with the potential to increase agricultural productivity. The work involves not only repairing irrigation canals, but also expanding networks and rehabilitating various supporting structures within the irrigation systems.Several programs are being implemented across a number of regencies and cities. In Langkat Regency, the provincial government is carrying out operation and maintenance of the swamp irrigation network in the Secanggang irrigation area in Batang Serangan.
The Batunadua irrigation area in Padangsidimpuan City is also being developed. In the Sipirok irrigation area in South Tapanuli Regency, canals and transport structures are being rehabilitated. Meanwhile, the government is rehabilitating Weir III of the Padang Garugur Kiri/Kanan irrigation area in North Padanglawas Regency.
The expansion of surface irrigation networks also covers the Parit Lompaten irrigation area in Karo Regency. In Humbang Hasundutan Regency, the provincial government is expanding canals in the Aek Sibundong irrigation area.
In addition, the government is constructing a weir for the Aek Sarula irrigation area in North Tapanuli Regency and rehabilitating canals in the Simok-Mok irrigation area in the same region. The provincial government is also rehabilitating surface irrigation networks in Serdangbedagai Regency.In Simalungun Regency, canals in several irrigation areas are being expanded and rehabilitated. Similar work is being carried out in Batubara Regency, where weirs in the Cinta Maju/Cinta Damai, Simodong, and Tanjung Muda irrigation areas are being rehabilitated.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government is also rehabilitating the surface irrigation network in the Serbangan irrigation area in Asahan Regency. Meanwhile, canals in the Roburan Maga irrigation area in Mandailing Natal Regency are being rehabilitated.These various projects are part of the government's efforts to improve the function of irrigation networks so that previously unproductive agricultural land can once again be cultivated by local communities.
Gibson assured that implementation of the various programs would begin immediately, as most of the projects are already at the contracting stage."The irrigation programs I mentioned are, on average, already under contract and will be implemented soon," Gibson said.
The target is also intended to strengthen the utilization of North Sumatra's irrigation potential, which has not yet fully supported the agricultural activities of local communities. By improving networks, canals, and weirs, as well as maintaining irrigation facilities, the government aims to ensure that water supplies can better support the cultivation of agricultural land.
The program also highlights the North Sumatra Provincial Government's efforts to link the development of water infrastructure with increased agricultural productivity. The government views irrigation optimization as a means of creating new opportunities to cultivate previously unused land while improving the utilization of existing agricultural areas.If the target of an additional 5,050 hectares is achieved, the total productive agricultural land cultivated by communities in North Sumatra will reach approximately 41,000 hectares. The provincial government will continue its efforts to ensure that previously unproductive irrigation areas can make a greater contribution to strengthening the agricultural sector in the region.
As most of the projects are already at the contracting stage, the North Sumatra Provincial Government is aiming for immediate implementation of the programs across the 21 irrigation areas so that they can benefit local communities, particularly farmers who depend on functioning irrigation infrastructure to cultivate their agricultural land. (IDNC)REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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