1Berita English – The Ministry of Agriculture has revealed that an additional budget of IDR 14 trillion will be allocated for fertilizer subsidies after the first planting season (MT I), scheduled for March 2024.
Kuntoro Boga Andri, the Head of the Public Relations and Information Bureau at Kementan, stated that this decision is made because the fertilizer supply for MT I from October 2023 to March 2024 is still sufficient.
He detailed that for MT I, the planting target is 6.3 million hectares, requiring 2.4 million tons of fertilizer.
“With the remaining planting target for January-February 2024 at 3.9 million hectares, the fertilizer requirement is approximately 1.6 million tons. Therefore, the availability of 1.7 million tons of fertilizer is still sufficient,” he explained in an official statement on Tuesday (9/1).
Kuntoro mentioned that with the subsidized fertilizer needs being met for the first planting season, the additional budget of IDR 14 trillion approved by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will be allocated for the subsequent planting seasons.
“The Minister of Agriculture has acknowledged the concerns of farmers across various regions who requested assurance of subsidized fertilizer availability and promptly proposed additional funding. Alhamdulillah, President Joko Widodo has approved it,” Kuntoro explained.
In addition to ensuring an adequate supply of subsidized fertilizer, The Ministry of Agriculture has simplified the redemption mechanism for subsidized fertilizer.
“Now, farmers only need to use their ID cards to redeem subsidized fertilizer. They can collect it at kiosks that have registered their names,” said Kuntoro.
With the certainty of fertilizer stocks and easier access, Kuntoro hopes that farmers can produce effectively.
“January-February is a crucial moment for all rice farmers, so fertilizer needs are very crucial. We will continue to monitor and ensure that fertilizer can be effectively utilized by them,” he concluded.
Jokowi has indeed increased the subsidy budget for fertilizer to Kementan by IDR 14 trillion this year. This addition is expected to address the complaints of farmers facing difficulties in obtaining subsidized fertilizer.
Jokowi mentioned that he has conveyed this to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani for budget allocation.
“In 2024, I have told the finance minister to add the fertilizer subsidy by the figure we calculated, IDR 14 trillion must be added to cover the fertilizer shortage in the fields,” he said during the Farmers Development event in Banyumas, Central Java, on Tuesday (2/1).
According to him, the budget requirements for the fertilizer subsidy have been coordinated by Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman and Sri Mulyani for joint discussion with the DPR (People’s Consultative Assembly) to obtain approval and be implemented promptly.
“But so that the public also knows that such requests must obtain the approval of the DPR,” he clarified.
Jokowi also mentioned summoning the CEO of PT Pupuk Indonesia to determine the current fertilizer stock. It is hoped that the additional subsidy of IDR 14 trillion can be implemented in the second half of 2024.
