Focused Sector(s): Water, Livelihood
Project: Safe Drinking Water, Livelihood Enhancement and Poverty Alleviation
Date and duration: December 2009 – June 2010 (7 months)
Location: Hamparan Perak Sub-district, Deli Serdang District, North Sumatra Province
Beneficiaries: 7,830 villagers from 2,466 households


Problem(s)

  • Due to its large land area and remoteness, the Hamparan Perak sub-district had been developing slowly
  • There was no proper irrigation system and fields were often badly flooded, leading to crops being destroyed and the harvest season disrupted
  • Coastal destruction and a diminishing mangrove forest affected the daily catch of fishermen
  • Only 10 per cent of the villagers owned wells; the cost of purchasing water from kiosks or neighbours with wells was high and often unaffordable
  • Poverty was a big problem – the average monthly income during the harvesting season was only IDR 900,000 (S$90)


Intervention and Impact

  • Installed a water dam with three sluice gates and two barriers to regulate water flow from the rivers. With a proper irrigation system, farmers had better harvests and increased incomes
  • Provided nine water points with filtration systems, and charged IDR 5,000 (S$0.50) per month for water, or 98% less than what was previously charged. Villagers now had access to safe and affordable water for consumption and cooking without having to trek long distances
  • Converted unused water ponds into nurseries and cultivated 15,000 mangrove seedlings. These were then sold to buyers to be planted along the coastal regions to prevent erosion and enhance marine life. The benefit was two-fold: environmental conservation and better livelihoods for fishermen

 

Cost: S$201,600

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