The Directorate General of Agricultural Land and Irrigation (Ditjen LIP) is one of the implementing units of the core duties and functions of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia. It holds a strategic role in managing land and water resources to support the sustainability of national agricultural development. The establishment of Ditjen LIP is inseparable from the increasingly complex dynamics of the agricultural sector, particularly in addressing challenges such as climate change, natural resource degradation, and the growing demand for national food supply. The government recognizes that optimal agricultural land management and reliable water availability through efficient irrigation systems are fundamental to achieving food security and agricultural self-sufficiency.

In the context of institutional restructuring to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural development programs, the President of the Republic of Indonesia enacted Presidential Regulation Number 117 of 2022 concerning the Ministry of Agriculture. Through this regulation, the organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture was adjusted, including the establishment of a new Directorate General with specific responsibilities in land and irrigation management.

As a follow-up to this policy, the Minister of Agriculture issued Ministerial Regulation Number 28 of 2023 concerning the Organization and Work Procedures of the Ministry of Agriculture, which officially established the Directorate General of Agricultural Land and Irrigation. This directorate is the result of the consolidation and strengthening of functions from several previous work units, particularly those within the Directorate General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities (Ditjen PSP), which had been responsible for land support, water management, and agricultural infrastructure.

Ditjen LIP is mandated to formulate and implement technical policies in the fields of agricultural land management, development and rehabilitation of agricultural irrigation networks, water damage control, land and water conservation, as well as the governance of participatory and sustainable irrigation systems. Its existence is crucial in supporting national priority programs, including the optimization of swamp and dryland areas, increasing the Cropping Index (IP), and strengthening the institutional capacity of water user farmer organizations.

Since its establishment, the Directorate General of Agricultural Land and Irrigation has been committed to building a resilient agricultural system that is adaptive to climate change, environmentally sustainable, and inclusive of the needs of farmers and rural communities. Through an area-based approach and cross-sectoral synergy, Ditjen LIP continues to promote the modernization of agricultural infrastructure and the application of appropriate technologies in managing land and water resources.

Through its active role in agricultural development, Ditjen LIP is expected to become a key pillar in achieving the vision of the Ministry of Agriculture: “Advanced and Sustainable Agriculture that Benefits the People of Indonesia in Realizing an Advanced Indonesia Towards Golden Indonesia 2045,” while also contributing to the realization of sustainable food security for all Indonesians.