Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture is strengthening its pump-based irrigation program to boost Indonesia’s agricultural productivity.Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said that improved water management has significantly changed farming patterns, particularly in upland areas, increasing crop cycles from one harvest to two or three per year.”This policy is key to driving production growth without relying entirely on land expansion,” he said during a visit to Magelang, Central Java, on Thursday.During the visit, he observed a 5,000-liter irrigation system currently irrigating about 20 hectares, which has delivered tangible benefits for local farmers.”This is a very creative approach. What was once a single harvest is now three, because the pumps are in place,” he said.He added that the program will be replicated nationwide to optimize upland areas.”We have allocated up to Rp5 trillion (around US$291 million) for this initiative. If expanded to 1 million hectares with an average yield of 6 tons per hectare, it could add 6 million tons of paddy,” he said.Amran said the program is being implemented alongside other strategies, including new rice field development and swamp land optimization, to boost national output.According to him, these measures have already resulted in a significant increase in production.”These steps have raised production sharply by 13 percent, or around 4 million tons,” he noted.He also highlighted the Planting Area Expansion (LTT) program, which focuses on maximizing land use.”The land area remains the same, but planting intensity increases, with the potential for three crop cycles per hectare,” he explained.To accelerate implementation, the ministry plans to convene regional leaders to ensure irrigation needs are met.