The National Police Corruption Task Force Monitors The Distribution Of Subsidized Fertilizers In North Tapanuli

The National Police's Special Task Force (Satgasus) monitors the distribution of subsidized fertilizers as well as agricultural tools and machinery assistance from the Government to farmers in North Tapanuli, North Sumatra. The goal is to prevent fraud that leads to state losses.

"The purpose of this monitoring is so that the distribution of subsidized fertilizers and alsinta assistance (machine and agricultural equipment) which is a government program, through the Ministry of Agriculture, is right on target, used optimally, and is not misappropriated, causing state financial losses," said member of the National Police Corruption Prevention Task Force Yudi Purnomo in a statement, Friday, July 7.

Not only monitoring, the Task Force team also took samples of the subsidized fertilizer. Later, the sample will be tested in the laboratory with the intention of ensuring the quality according to the predetermined standard.

"The monitoring will be carried out from July 4 to July 7, 2023," he said.

This monitoring, continued Yudi, was in accordance with the direction of the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo who ordered to take steps to prevent corruption. Moreover, the availability of subsidized fertilizers will affect Indonesia's food security.

"If corruption and irregularities occur, it will certainly disrupt national food security," said Yudi.

Meanwhile, the Head of the National Police's Corruption Prevention Task Force, Hotman Tambunan, said that from the monitoring results, it was found that many kiosks did not have a stock of fertilizers. In fact, the absorption of subsidized fertilizer allocations until the end of June 2023 for North Tapanuli Regency is still around 41 percent.

"This is very detrimental to farmers who are entitled to receive subsidized fertilizers," said Hotman.