Government Ensures Fertilizer Availability for Farmers Through Pupuk Indonesia

Agriculture is a sector that has a major contribution to the Indonesian economy. The success of this sector is inseparable from the services of farmers who have worked hard to support national food security. To maintain the contribution of the agricultural sector, the Government continues to maintain the availability of fertilizers, both subsidized and non-subsidized.

The administration of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has a high alignment with farmers, one of which is through the fertilizer subsidy program which is allocated around Rp 25 trillion annually prepared by the Government to help farmers get fertilizer at affordable prices. In 2024, the Government plans to increase the allocation of fertilizer subsidies by IDR 14 trillion so that more farmers can get subsidized fertilizers.

It does not stop there, the Government also facilitates the mechanism for subsidized fertilizer redemption only with Identity Cards (KTP). This is expected to be utilized by all farmers in meeting fertilizer needs.

President Director of Petrokimia Gresik, Dwi Satriyo Annurogo said that not only providing subsidized fertilizers to farmers, but the Government guarantees the availability of non-subsidized fertilizers.

"The government, through Pupuk Indonesia, ensures the availability of fertilizers throughout Indonesia, both subsidized and non-subsidized fertilizers. The government helps to obtain fertilizer easily to support the planting season acceleration program in early 2024," said Dwi Satriyo.

To maintain the availability of fertilizer, the Government, in this case the Ministry of SOEs and the Ministry of Agriculture through Pupuk Indonesia , held a Fertilizer Discount Gebyar program in various cities/regencies from January to February 2024, one of which was at the Sidokerto Buffer Fertilizer Warehouse - Ngawi Regency, East Java, Wednesday (1/17/2024).

"During this planting season, the government has made various support efforts for farmers to get optimal results in the harvest season. Gebyar Diskon Pupuk 2024 is organized by Pupuk Indonesia, in collaboration with the government, in various cities from January to February 2024. This series of events aims to ensure the availability of fertilizer for farmers and make it easier for farmers to obtain fertilizer in this planting season," said Dwi Satriyo.

In the Gebyar Diskon Pupuk activity, the Government assigned Pupuk Indonesia to meet the needs of non-subsidized fertilizers and encouraged farmers to immediately redeem fertilizers, among others, by preparing non-subsidized fertilizers at affordable prices.

Petrokimia Gresik Operations and Production Director, Digna Jatiningsih after attending the 2024 Nonsubsidized Fertilizer Discount Gebyar in Ngawi emphasized that this activity was to strengthen the role of Pupuk Indonesia in maintaining food security. In addition, this activity is a form of company support to farmers to accelerate planting, in line with the Government's program to increase national agricultural productivity.

"The sales target in Ngawi is for 5,000 farmers, with a total quantum of 120 tons. This activity is to help farmers get fertilizer for their crops at the beginning of the year," he explained.

Meanwhile, the Government also always ensures the availability of subsidized and non-subsidized fertilizer stocks, among others, by conducting working visits to several agricultural center areas. As of December 31, 2023, the availability of subsidized fertilizers and non-subsidized fertilizers is recorded at 1,744,302 tons, equivalent to 236 percent of the minimum stock requirements set by the Government. The stock figure consists of subsidized fertilizers of 1,215,280 tons and non-subsidized fertilizers of 529,022 tons.

"Pupuk Indonesia runs the Gebyar Diskon Pupuk program according to the government's encouragement so that farmers can enjoy non-subsidized fertilizers at affordable prices and help increase agricultural productivity and farmers' welfare. Hopefully, this program can encourage farmers to plant early so that we can reap the success of the planting season earlier this year together during the harvest in April," concluded Dwi Satriyo.