Good News For Farmers! Minister Of Agriculture Says Subsidized Fertilizer Budget Will Increase

Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government has decided to increase the budget for subsidized fertilizers. This is done to prepare free rice and corn seeds for farmers.

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman said the decision was taken in an internal meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.

"There is good news for Indonesian farmers. The fertilizer budget was decided this year, which was set last year for the quantum year in 2024 (as large as) 4.7 million tons, then doubled to 9.55 million tons. That is the direction of the President, in the near future the DIPA will come out according to the agreement," Amran said quoting Antara.

Andi Amran said the second good news related to El Nino, the government will pump in a number of rainsheds in Java and outside Java, with an additional cost of IDR 5.8 trillion from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN).

Third, he explained that the government will prepare free superior seeds for farmers, for the nursery of 2 million hectares of rice and 2 million hectares of corn.

"Currently, corn production has increased, even according to BPS January, February, March 2 million tons. Compared to the previous year," he said.

Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo Adi said that national rice production must be increased so that Bulog rice stocks can be maintained above 2 million tons.

Arief said the efforts made by the government through the provision of seeds, fertilizers, and pumping are steps to encourage domestic production.