The Balikpapan Municipal Government is committed to strengthening local food security by transforming the Gunung Binjai agricultural area in Teritip Village, East Balikpapan District, into a self-sufficient regional food barn. This strategic step is realized through an irrigation network construction project to trigger an increase in the planting frequency of local farmers.
Deputy Mayor of Balikpapan, Bagus Susetyo, explained that the provision of this watering infrastructure is part of the region's efforts to reduce dependence on external food supplies. The 750-meter-long irrigation channel, divided into four points, is built using a sturdy 1.2-meter-wide concrete construction to ensure optimal water distribution to the rice fields.
The irrigation flow utilizes water from two nearby rivers, one of which is the Selo Api River. Although the surrounding area is entering a seasonal transition period, the water supply is observed to remain stable. The government targets this irrigation network to eventually irrigate the entire 42-hectare rice field area, which currently only covers a portion of the area.
The infrastructure project, funded by the Balikpapan City Budget (APBD) amounting to IDR 4.8 billion, is targeted for full completion in December 2026. As of the end of July, physical progress on the ground was reported to be very positive, reaching 26 percent realization, surpassing the initial target of just six percent.
The Chairman of the Gunung Binjai Farmers Group, Romadhon, welcomed the project as a solution to long-standing water scarcity. With a more guaranteed water supply, farmers are preparing to implement a new cropping pattern, namely two rice crops and one corn crop per year, which is also believed to be effective in breaking the pest cycle. Currently, local rice field productivity is capable of producing an average of 4.5 tons of grain per hectare.
Nevertheless, farmers hope the government will also immediately resolve other supporting issues. Romadhon requested repairs to two leaking check dams and the clearing of clogged drainage channels to prevent the rice fields from the threat of flooding during high-intensity rainfall.
