The Historical Analysis of the Development and Maintenance of Irrigation Infrastructure in the Pekalongan Residency During the Great Depression in the 1930s

Endah Sri Hartatik (Universitas Diponegoro)
Ken Widyawati (Universitas Diponegoro)
Ilham Nur Utomo (Universitas Diponegoro)
Nguyen Thanh Tuan (University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City)

Paramita: Historical Studies Journal
Vol. 36 No. 2 (2026): Agricultural History

Abstract: During the Dutch colonial era, the Pekalongan Residency was a key center for the sugar industry, supported by advanced irrigation systems. However, during the great depression of the 1930s, this sector declined, affecting production activities, sugarcane cultivation, and the utilization of irrigation infrastructure. Despite these challenges, the Dutch colonial government continued to pursue large-scale irrigation infrastructure projects even as the state’s financial situation deteriorated. This research aims to analyze the history of irrigation infrastructure development and maintenance in the Pekalongan Residency during the 1930s great depression. The research employed historical methods that systematically encompassed the stages of heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography. The findings revealed that irrigation played a crucial role in the Pekalongan Residency as the primary source of water for plantations and agriculture. During the great depression, the development and maintenance of irrigation infrastructure persisted, relying on government funding. The main factors driving these projects were not only to support plantation and agricultural irrigation but also to alleviate local poverty. Therefore, the government demonstrated its intervention in addressing the problems faced by the population of the Pekalongan Residency by creating employment opportunities through long-term irrigation projects. Abstrak:  Pada masa kolonial Belanda, Karesidenan Pekalongan merupakan salah satu pusat industri gula yang penting dan ditopang oleh sistem irigasi yang maju. Namun, pada masa depresi besar tahun 1930-an, sektor tersebut mengalami kemunduran yang berdampak pada kegiatan produksi, penanaman tebu, dan pemanfaatan infrastruktur irigasi. Di tengah berbagai kesulitan itu, pemerintah kolonial Belanda tetap melanjutkan proyek-proyek pembangunan infrastruktur irigasi berskala besar meskipun kondisi keuangan negara terus memburuk. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis sejarah pembangunan dan pemeliharaan infrastruktur irigasi di Karesidenan Pekalongan pada masa depresi besar tahun 1930-an. Penelitian menggunakan metode sejarah yang secara sistematis mencakup tahapan heuristik, kritik sumber, interpretasi, dan historiografi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa irigasi memegang peranan penting di Karesidenan Pekalongan sebagai sumber air utama bagi perkebunan dan pertanian. Pada masa depresi besar, pembangunan dan pemeliharaan infrastruktur irigasi tetap berlangsung dengan mengandalkan pembiayaan pemerintah. Faktor utama yang mendorong proyek-proyek tersebut tidak hanya untuk menunjang pengairan perkebunan dan pertanian, tetapi juga untuk menanggulangi kemiskinan penduduk setempat. Dengan demikian, pemerintah menunjukkan bentuk intervensinya dalam mengatasi persoalan yang dihadapi penduduk Karesidenan Pekalongan melalui penciptaan lapangan kerja dalam proyek irigasi jangka panjang.