Siak (Antarariau.com) - High rice productivity has been recorded by the regency of Siak in Riau through the use of swam water irrigation system.
For the success, the district has been made a place for pilot project for swamp irrigation system.
Director General of Water Resources of the Public Works and Housing Ministry Mudjiadi, who inspected the project in the sub-district of Bunga Raya on Thursday said he was impressed with Siak s productivity of 7-9 tons of paddy per hectare through swamp irrigation system.
Mudjiadi said it was hard to believe the fact as normally rice fields using swam irrigation system could produce only up to 4 tons of paddy per hectare.
Improvement of irrigation systems is one of the government s program to increase the country s rice production to guarantee food security, Mudjiadi said.
Meanwhile, head of the Siak public works, layout and public housing office Irving Kahar said the success had prompted the government to make Siak a place for pilot project for swamp water irrigation system.
"Mr Mudjiadi was the one drafting the concept of the swamp water irrigation system for more than 8,000 hectares of paddy fields in Siak in 1976, therefore, he was surprised with the change he saw at present," Irving said.
In appreciation of the success, the Water Resource Director General provided development aid from the state budget for the procurement of water pumps to help in rice field irrigation in the district.
"Now we can rely on swamp water for paddy field irrigation. We no longer rely only on rain water," he said.
Siak Regent Syamsuar said he hoped the availability of water pumps for rice field irrigation is expected to result in an increase in rice production in the district.
"Now our target in food security would be better guaranteed," he added.
Siak To Build Swamp Irrigation System With State Budget
