Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) announced that its board of directors has approved a US$250 million loan to improve irrigation services and management accountability in Indonesia.
The project, co-financed by the World Bank, aims to rehabilitate, revitalize and modernize water resources and irrigation systems in Indonesia. It also seeks to strengthen irrigation institutions and management and improve the operation and maintenance of these systems.
“Improving irrigation infrastructure in Indonesia will support and complement the government’s food security and sustainable agriculture development efforts,” said D.J. Pandian, AIIB’s vice president and chief investment officer. “This project shows AIIB’s commitment to support economic growth and socioeconomic development in Indonesia, the largest economy in South East Asia.”
AIIB said the project will benefit more than 887,00 farmer households. They stand to get more reliable, climate-resilient and efficient irrigation water supply and distribution as well as increased agricultural productivity through improved irrigation water management and climate-smart agricultural interventions.
The project consists of three components, including rehabilitation of 100,000 hectares of irrigated areas to overcome the deterioration of irrigation practices, modernization of irrigation and drainage system for 176,000 hectares of the Jatiluhur irrigation system in West Java, as well as project management support.
“This project will improve and upgrade existing water resource and irrigation infrastructure which is the backbone of Indonesia’s agriculture and staple food supply,” said Supee Teravaninthorn, AIIB’s director general of investment operations. “It will directly contribute to inclusive and sustainable socio-economic growth in the country. The project is aligned with AIIB’s mandate to promote social and economic development in Asia through investment in infrastructure.”
