RRI.CO.ID, Agam - Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo has announced that the government is prioritizing the restoration of irrigation systems for rice fields that were not physically damaged by recent natural disasters. 

This strategic move is designed to maintain national food security and hit the 2026 self-sufficiency target while the country continues its broader post-disaster recovery.

During a field inspection in Agam Regency on Wednesday, January, 28, 2026, Minister Dody explained that ensuring water reaches unaffected fields is the fastest way to stabilize the domestic food supply. 

While visiting infrastructure damaged by the November 2025 disasters alongside West Sumatra's Governor and local officials, he emphasized a "results-first" approach.

"As long as the rice fields aren't affected, we'll definitely fix the irrigation first. That's for sure," Dody asserted, as quoted by Antara.

By focusing on areas ready for production, the Ministry ensures that the national harvest schedule remains on track despite the recovery efforts elsewhere.

Interestingly, the Ministry is also fast-tracking repairs for fields buried under mud using drone-assisted surveys. Following consultations with the Minister of Agriculture, it was determined that much of the silt deposited by floods actually contains valuable nutrients.

"According to the Minister of Agriculture, the mud actually becomes humus," Dody noted, explaining that these mud-covered areas will be prioritized for irrigation as long as the soil remains viable for planting.

The Minister clarified that the government is being cautious with fields whose future is uncertain. To avoid wasting public funds, the Ministry of Public Works is awaiting final directives from the Ministry of Agriculture before rebuilding irrigation in areas that may be relocated or deemed unirrigable.

"Later, if the irrigation is repaired, it turns out the rice fields cannot be planted or will even be relocated to another location," he cautioned, citing previous experiences in Aceh and North Sumatra where projects were halted due to land-use uncertainty.

The current policy is strictly "planting-aligned." Whenever the Ministry of Agriculture starts a planting season, the Ministry of Public Works will simultaneously ensure that the water flows. ***