Prabowo Claims Fertilizer Prices Have Fallen 20 Percent After Cutting Distribution Rules

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto revealed a decrease in fertilizer prices after he signed a policy to streamline the rules for distributing fertilizer. This achievement was conveyed in a speech at the Annual Meeting of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly.

Prabowo said the government had removed 145 rules related to the distribution of fertilizer. According to him, this step has succeeded in reducing fertilizer prices by 20 percent.

"The first time the price of fertilizer can be reduced for the people," said Prabowo, Friday, August 14.

He added that the price reduction took place simultaneously with an increase in the volume of fertilizer availability. With this condition, according to Prabowo, the public will be easier to get fertilizer so as to also encourage an increase in agricultural production.

"That's why production increased, and that's why we are faster in food self-sufficiency," he explained.

Prabowo also highlighted the performance of PT Pupuk Indonesia as a state-owned enterprise that experienced a profit of up to 252.8 percent even though the fertilizer price was reduced and the volume of availability was increased.

"The price of fertilizer has decreased, the volume has increased, but the profit for PT Pupuk Indonesia has increased by 252.8 percent," said Prabowo.

According to him, this achievement is the result of joint work between the central government, the Ministry of Agriculture, agricultural extensionists, regional governments, the TNI, the National Police, and other ministries and agencies.

He assessed that the cooperation was part of the government's spirit of mutual cooperation in improving the national food sector.

Prabowo then stated that Indonesia this year has achieved self-sufficiency for eight food commodities.

"With the spirit of mutual cooperation, we have achieved a feat that the world recognizes," said Prabowo.