Minister Of Agriculture Amran Dismantles Fake Fertilizer Mafia Practices, Loses Farmers IDR 3.2 Trillion

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman revealed that there is a fertilizer mafia practice involving unscrupulous employees at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) with outsiders to distribute counterfeit fertilizers.

Amran said, there were five companies involved in the distribution of counterfeit fertilizers.

The practice has cost farmers up to IDR 3.2 trillion.

In addition, he continued, there are 22 other companies involved in producing fertilizers with substandard specifications.

The company lowered the quality of fertilizers by 30 percent of the provisions, and had a significant impact on farmers' crops.

"Well, this is interesting. The fertilizer mafia is fake. Five companies, cost farmers 3.2 trillion. Then there are only 30 percent of the specs. This means harming the farmers 22 companies," he said at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday, February 3.

Amran admitted that his party had also handed over the fake fertilizer mafia to law enforcement officials.

"We have submitted this to law enforcement. There have been several suspects. Including (employees) from the Ministry of Agriculture who process this (fake) fertilizer," he said.

He has disabled 11 Ministry of Agriculture employees and will carry out dismissals.

"There are already suspects from the Ministry. God willing, we will fire them soon," he said.