ISSUE

Low incomes, livelihoods, and food security in rural areas.

The Indonesian Government implemented its irrigation improvement program (IIP) from 2015 to 2025, to advance the overarching agenda of food security and rural poverty reduction through increased and improved water delivery. The focus of ADB's support was on improving irrigation system operation, maintenance, and water delivery to farmers. The program financed a time slice of the government's IIP in 74 districts across 16 provinces from 2017 to 2021. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) provided parallel financing to the Ministry of Agriculture for improved delivery of agricultural services to maximize the benefits of the irrigation improvements. The program aligned with the government's long-term National Development Plan, 2005-2025, and National Medium-Term Development Plan, 2015-2019, in which water and food security were priorities. To meet these national goals, the irrigation improvement program called for participatory irrigation management, better asset management systems, needs-based budgeting, strengthening of water users associations and water resources agencies, and the rehabilitation of 3.2 million ha of irrigation systems. The program was also aligned with the priorities of ADB's country partnership strategy, 2016-2019, for Indonesia, improving operation and maintenance (O&M) and management as part of ADB's country operations business plan, 2017-2019, for Indonesia. It was also aligned with ADB's Water Operational Plan, 2011-2020, and Operational Plan for Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2015-2020.