(A Case of “Embung” Development in Lombok Island, Nusa Tenggara
Barat Province, Indonesia)
By: Surana[1] and Imam Santoso[2]
suranamsc@gmail.com and immsantoso@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The Province of Nusa Tenggara Barat is located in the neighboring east of the Bali Island, Indonesia. Its consists of two river basins and 18 sub-basins, whereas 4 of Sub SWS are in Lombok and 14 of Sub SWS are in Sumbawa. The total of the main rivers are 170, inwhich during dry season the discharge is low to dry, only a few rivers having available discharge. Earlier in 1980s, due to the relatively low intensity with poorly distributed rainfalls, the area could only contribute low cropping intensity agriculture, as compared to other regions of the country. At present in the Lombok Island, are increasingly deteriorating, among others, due to the impacts of widespread human activities in the upper watershed areas. However, as the result of active participation and the highly motivated WUAs in constructing and rehabilitating embungs (traditional water ponds), and with adequately provided technical supports from the government, the area has now become one of the eleventh rice-producing provinces in Indonesia.
This paper is intended to discuss the experiences in handling the management water under drought and scarcity condition, especially in Lombok Island. To give a brief illustration, the discussion has been based on the indigenous farmer’s experience in handling the management of water (both for domestic and or for irrigation purposes) by constructing traditional embung to collect water and also to built a simple tunnel to convey water to the critical areas.
[1] Water Resources/ Irrigation Engineer, Association of HidraulicEngineer, NTB,.
[2] Planning Manager, Directoral General of Water Resources, DPW, Jakarta
Surana's Weblog 
Leave a comment