Bengkulu, Sept. 27 -- Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono called on regional leaders not to divert irrigation development budgets to other sectors and to actively accelerate the completion of irrigation projects.

"Do not shift regional funds to other uses just because the central government has already allocated a budget for irrigation," Sudaryono said during the launch of the Senator Peduli Ketahanan Pangan (Senator Cares for Food Security) program in Bengkulu on Saturday.

He explained that President Prabowo Subianto has introduced a new policy that removes the previous division of authority in irrigation development.

Under the new system, the central government, provinces, and districts can build or repair any part of irrigation ne...