Not Having A Distribution Permit, Farmers In Bali Cannot Participate In Subsidy Fertilizer Tender

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - A number of farmers in Bali who are members of the Bali Simantri Association have complained that they cannot participate in the tender for the procurement and supply of subsidized organic fertilizers because they do not have distribution permits.

"In order for us to be a participant in the procurement of subsidized organic fertilizer, we must have a distribution permit," said Chairman of the Bali Simantri Association I Gusti Ketut Susilabawa as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 19.

Susilabawa along with a number of members of the Bali Simantri Association expressed the difficulty of obtaining a distribution permit from the Ministry of Agriculture.

"We have already produced a lot of fertilizer, but the distribution permit from the Ministry of Agriculture has not been issued until now. I'm afraid that the budget for the procurement has been decided by the end of July, so that farmers will lose their opportunity," he said together with representatives of farmers from nine regencies/cities in Bali. .

According to him, a distribution permit is not only needed to be able to participate as a provider of subsidized organic fertilizers, but also to sell organic fertilizers to stands selling plants.

There were a number of farmers who had previously tried to sell organic fertilizer to plant traders, but instead had to deal with the police.

Therefore, his party wants DPD member Made Mangku Pastika to facilitate so that the distribution permit from the Ministry of Agriculture can be immediately issued.

According to Susilabawa, the required documents for the distribution permit were previously sent to the Ministry of Agriculture at the end of 2021.

On that occasion, he also mentioned about the combination of farmer groups (Gapoktan) who received the Simantri program assistance, which is now like a chicken that has lost its mother because there is no longer any assistance.

"In the past, with Simantri we felt the benefits, a lot could be obtained. Not only from raising cows, but also the income from manure that was processed into organic fertilizer, especially in the past there was a fertilizer subsidy from the government," he added.

Farmers' income when Simantri is still active can increase to above 50 percent.

From the sale of organic fertilizers in a month can make a profit of up to Rp 5 million.

The secretary of the Bali Simantri Association, Dewa Putu Buda, added that the organic fertilizer produced by Simantri had previously been verified for quality and effectiveness tests, and was declared to have passed verification in 2020 and 2021.

However, now, after producing a lot of organic fertilizer, even hundreds of tons for one Simantri, it turns out that the distribution permit from the Ministry of Agriculture has not yet been issued.

"To produce organic fertilizer, we also empower people who have been laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

Responding to the submission of these aspirations, DPD member Made Mangku Pastika promised to fight for the Ministry of Agriculture.

Pastika said that Simantri's program which was launched when he was governor of Bali, was not only aimed at raising cattle.

"But to make Bali an Organic Island, a sustainable Bali with the widespread use of organic fertilizers. In fact, I used to dare to provide subsidies for the purchase of organic fertilizers of up to IDR 10 billion a year," he said.

Simantri which has formed up to 800 units until 2018, said Pastika, the initial idea was also as a demonstration plot or pilot to improve the welfare of farmers so that later the community could follow suit.

In the midst of conditions where there is no longer any assistance from the local government, he suggested that the Simantri unit could cooperate with universities and make Simantri a practical laboratory for students.