Maintenance of Supporting Equipment for Irrigation Modernization in Pamukkulu and Tabo-tabo: Supporting Efficient Agricultural Water Management

Makassar, April 26, 2025 – Amid major efforts to modernize Indonesia's irrigation systems, maintenance of supporting equipment has become a critical key to ensuring the success of this program. Recently, the Directorate of Water Resources Engineering of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) together with the Center for the Study of Irrigation and Agriculture Modernization (PKMIP) Faculty of Agricultural Technology Universitas Gadjah Mada conducted maintenance on several advanced technology tools in the Pamukkulu Irrigation Area and the Tabo-tabo Irrigation Area. This maintenance aims to ensure that all equipment continues to function optimally in supporting a more efficient and real-time data-based irrigation management system.

Maintenance of Smart Devices for Effective Rainfall Observation

In the Pamukkulu Irrigation Area, the equipment maintained included Smart V-Notch Inlet and Outlet which function to measure the water discharge entering and leaving the rice paddy fields. Additionally, there is also a Smart Ring Infiltro to monitor water infiltration rates and evapotranspiration, an Automatic Rainfall Recorder which records daily rainfall, and a Smart Automatic Weather Station which measures micro-climatic parameters such as air temperature, humidity, and wind speed. Meanwhile, in the Tabo-tabo Irrigation Area, maintenance was performed on Smart V-Notch Inlet and Outlet as well as Smart Ring Infiltro.

Maintenance of Smart V-Notch Inlet and Automatic Rainfall Recorder at Demonstration Plot, Pamukkulu Irrigation Area, Takalar, South Sulawesi

Maintenance of Smart Ring Infiltro at Demonstration Plot, Pamukkulu Irrigation Area, Takalar, South Sulawesi

Maintenance of Smart V-Notch Outlet at Demonstration Plot, Pamukkulu Irrigation Area, Takalar, South Sulawesi

Maintenance of Smart Ring Infiltro at Demonstration Plot, Tabo Tabo Irrigation Area, Pangkajene and Islands, South Sulawesi

According to Ardan Wiratmoko, STP., M.Sc., a member of the technical team from PKMIP UGM, this routine maintenance is very important so that equipment connected with SIPASI (Irrigation Management System) can continue to provide accurate and reliable data. "The data generated by these tools is very crucial in efficient water management. If this equipment does not function optimally, it will impact data-based decision making," he said. Pak Ardan also added that the team from the Smart Agriculture Research Center UGM has a major role in supporting the development and maintenance of this equipment. "We are not only involved in technology development, but also in maintenance to ensure these tools can continue to support the irrigation modernization program effectively," he added.

This maintenance activity was also followed by an evaluation from officers involved in irrigation management in the field. Pak Khaidir, SIPASI administrator in the Tabo-tabo Irrigation Area, expressed how important this system is in managing water distribution in rice paddy fields. "With data sent directly to SIPASI, we can monitor water needs in real-time and adjust water flow to increase irrigation management efficiency," according to Pak Khaidir.

Similar remarks were also made by Pak Iman, SIPASI administrator in Pamukkulu, who added that the presence of these tools helps in formulating more appropriate recommendations for irrigation management in the field. "SIPASI provides very useful data in planning water distribution more efficiently, as well as supporting data-based technical decisions," he said.

Additionally, Pak Rahim, who serves as the guard and data recorder for climatology at the Pamukkulu Weir Climatology Station, felt greatly assisted by the presence of the Automatic Weather Station equipment. This can help with real-time and continuous observation.

With the maintenance of these tools, the hope is that the modern irrigation system applied in Pamukkulu and Tabo-tabo can continue to operate well, produce more efficient water management, and support sustainable agriculture in Indonesia, in line with the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as ending hunger, ensuring access to clean water, and supporting action on climate change.

Team Photo After Maintenance of the Automatic Weather Station (AWS)