THE IMPACT OF SMALL RESERVOIRS (EMBUNG) ON RICE PRODUCTION IN BANYUMAS REGENCY, 2017–2025

Abstract

Rice is a strategic agricultural commodity that plays a vital role in supporting food security in Indonesia. In recent years, rice production at both the national and regional levels has shown a declining trend. As a crop highly dependent on the stability of irrigation systems, limited water availability, particularly during the dry season, has become a major constraint. To address this issue, the government has implemented various measures to improve agricultural productivity, one of which is the construction of farm reservoirs (embung). These reservoirs are designed to enhance irrigation water availability, especially during the dry season, thereby supporting the sustainability of rice production. This study aims to analyze the effect of farm reservoirs on rice production in Banyumas Regency during the period 2017–2025, while also considering harvested area and agricultural institutions as influencing factors. The study employs a quantitative approach covering 27 sub-districts in Banyumas Regency. Secondary data were obtained from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the Banyumas Regency Agricultural Office, and the Banyumas Regency Public Works Office. Data were analyzed using panel data regression methods. The results indicate that areas equipped with farm reservoirs tend to have lower rice production compared to areas without reservoirs. This finding can be explained by the fact that reservoir development policies are primarily targeted at regions with high vulnerability to water shortages, such as rainfed agricultural areas. Meanwhile, harvested area has a positive and significant effect on rice production. In contrast, agricultural institutions, measured by the number of farmer groups, do not have a significant effect on rice production, suggesting that the quantity of institutions has not yet been accompanied by improvements in their effectiveness in enhancing agricultural output.