**3. Food production and tertiary irrigation improvement**

The impact of constructing a tertiary irrigation network in the Kendal Regency can be seen in two things, the cropping index and productivity. The construction of irrigation networks can affect productivity and production [28]. Tertiary irrigation construction not only increases production by 22.19% but also increases the cropping index [29]. Generally, the impact of tertiary irrigation construction on cropping index and production in the Kendal Regency is illustrated in **Figures 12** and **13**.

The picture above depicts that there was an increase in the cropping index of rice plants in 2016. This increase occurred after the restoration of the irrigation network in 2015. The increase in the cropping index occurred by 0.37 from 1.85 in 2015 to 2.22 in 2016 or equivalent to an area of 8.880 ha (standard area ±24,000 ha). However, in the following year until 2019, the rice planting index decreased to 0.73. Exploration of further information related to the decline in the index of rice cultivation was caused by the shift of commodities, which are usually paddy to corn, in several subdistricts, such as Brangsong, Patebon, Gemuh, and Ringinarum. Farmers said that the corn

#### **Figure 12.**

*The effect of tertiary irrigation network construction on increasing IP in Kendal Regency in 2015–2020.*

#### **Figure 13.**

*The effect of tertiary irrigation network construction on rice and maize production in 2015–2020.*

commodity in recent years was more promising both in terms of production and price. Therefore, corn was more profitable. The transfer of commodities conducted by farmers is in line with corn production in Kendal Regency as shown in **Figure 13**.

In **Figure 13**, rice production increased from 2015 was 44,305 tons to 53,363 tons (9.058 tons). However, from 2017 to 2019, there was a decrease to 35,642 tons. On the other hand, corn in 2016 increased in production by 13,609 tons, from 56,977 tons to 70.586 tons. Furthermore, corn production increased to 77,219 tons in 2017, in 2018 by 62,665 tons, in 2019 by 66,364 tons, and in 2020 by 72,015 tons. This condition is contrary to rice production which continued to decline until 2019 and rose again in 2020.
