Supporting Sustainable Agriculture, PEPC JTB Handed Over Irrigation Facilities

BOJONEGORO - PT Pertamina EP Cepu (PEPC) Zone 12 (JTB) East Indonesia Regional (part of Pertamina Upstream Subholding) supports sustainable agriculture. Since the middle of this year, PEPC JTB has implemented the Agricultural Quality Improvement Program (quality of check dams, pond walls, boreholes, pumping, and agricultural pipelines) in five villages in Bojonegoro through the Community Development Program.

JTB Site Office & PGA Manager Edy Purnomo said that this program is PEPC's commitment to the community welfare around the operational area.

"We hope that through this program, agricultural land productivity will increase and impact positively on the community welfare," he said during the handover of irrigation facilities, such as boreholes, pump rooms, water reservoirs, and electric pumps in Kedungdowo Village, Balen, Bojonegoro, East Java, Tuesday, December 21, 2021.

On that occasion, the Chief of Kedungdowo Village, Setiawan, admitted that he was happy for the program that provides long-term benefits for the community. "We are very grateful to PEPC for this agricultural irrigation supporting facility. Inshaallah, this agricultural irrigation facility will provide tremendous benefits to our residents. Furthermore, the management of this irrigation facility will be fully managed by our farmers through Association of Irrigation Water Farmer User (HIPPA)," explained Setiawan.

The Agricultural Quality Improvement Program is the collaboration between PEPC JTB, Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Bussiness (SKK Migas), and the Bojonegoro Regency Government. This program is in line with the equitable provision of agricultural infrastructure and environmentally friendly development, which is one of the missions of the 2019-2023 Mid-Term Regional Development Plan (RPJMD) of Bojonegoro Regency. This program is also the joint commitment between SKK Migas, PT Pertamina EP Cepu, and the Bojonegoro Regency Government.

According to official data released by the local government, in 2019, Bojonegoro had 74 villages spread across 19 sub-districts susceptible to drought. Situations like this need a solution so that the people's economic activities, mostly farmers, can continue to be productive.

The handover ceremony was also attended by the Farmer Counselor from the Department of Agriculture, Marzuki, and the Chair of the HIPPA, who is fondly called Mbah Zaid.

Separately, the Handover of the Agricultural Quality Improvement Program is symbolized by pump houses, water pump machines, electrical installations. It was held in Karangdowo Village, Sumberejo, Bojonegoro, and attended by the Karangdowo Village Head Jumain, the local HIPPA Chairman Abdulrohman, Karangdowo Village officer, and representatives of prominent figures. *SHU PEPC