PORTALJABAR, GARUT REGENCY - The Regent of Garut, Abdusy Syakur Amin, led the socialization of the Pumping Irrigation and Tertiary Irrigation Network Maintenance Operation activities for the 2026 Fiscal Year. The event took place at the Garut Regency Agriculture Service Hall, Thursday (7/5/2026).

Regent Abdusy Syakur Amin emphasized that the agricultural sector is the backbone of the regional economy, contributing 2.13 percent to the Garut Regency economy. This figure is a significant achievement considering that the majority of Garut residents depend on the agricultural sector for their livelihood.

"This means that the agricultural sector's contribution is increasingly important to the lives of the people of Garut Regency. This aligns with the direction of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who wants our country to achieve national food security through food self-sufficiency," said the Regent.

As a concrete step, the Garut Regency Government is providing full support to farmers through a low-cost fertilizer policy to reduce production costs and providing insurance for farmers. This measure was taken to anticipate potential crop failures due to the El Niño climate phenomenon, which leads to limited water resources.

"We must always have the necessary equipment ready to maintain water availability. I want irrigation and water pumps to be utilized to their full potential to further improve agricultural productivity," he stressed.

The Regent also conveyed a special message to farmer groups to ensure the best possible use of the assistance provided by the central and regional governments.

"Please uphold the trust and mandate bestowed upon us by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture. Ensure the water pumps are safe from damage, let alone loss. This is a commitment from the central and regional governments to improve the welfare of our farmers," he added.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Garut Regency Agriculture Service (Distan), Ardhy Firdian, explained the details of the assistance distributed to mitigate field conditions in 2026, including:

1. Pump Irrigation: A total of 200 units (worth Rp. 155.7 million per unit) ready to be filed by 54 farmer groups.
2. Tertiary Irrigation Network Maintenance: Target 212 units (worth IDR 100 million per unit), with 10 farmer groups ready to sign contracts.
3. Land Optimization: An area of 717 hectares (allocated at Rp. 4.4 million per hectare) for the construction of connections and bridges.
4. Rice Field Printing: Target area of 100 hectares, with 20 hectares having been verified.

To ensure transparency and targeted effectiveness, the Garut Agriculture Service has closely collaborated with the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda). Since 2024, all stages, from planning and outreach to implementation, evaluation, and utilization of aid, have received direct support from the Garut District Attorney's Office, the Garut Police, and the Garut 06/11 Military District Command.

"This assistance aims to ensure that all physical and budgetary assistance is managed accountably and provides tangible benefits to the welfare of farmers in Garut Regency," concluded Ardhy Firdian. (Garut Communications and Information Service/rka)