Minister Of Agriculture Amran: Subsidized Fertilizer Allocation Worth A Total Of IDR 54 Trillion To Improve Agricultural Productivity

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman said the allocation of subsidized fertilizers in 2024 received an additional budget of IDR 28 trillion, bringing the total to IDR 54 trillion, in order to increase domestic agricultural productivity so that it can realize food self-sufficiency.

"With this addition (subsidized fertilizer budget), farmers are expected to immediately accelerate planting and increase domestic production so that in the future Indonesia will be able to realize self-sufficiency," Amran said in a statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Thursday, March 28.

Amran has symbolically handed over the allocation of additional subsidized fertilizers for farmers throughout Indonesia worth IDR 28 trillion. With this addition, now the total subsidized fertilizer budget reaches IDR 54 trillion.

The symbolic handover was carried out by Amran to Mamuju Regent Sitti Sutinah Suhardi who represented all regional heads throughout Indonesia. The handover was carried out after reviewing the rice plant in Papalang Village, Mamuju, West Sulawesi (Sulbar).

Amran said the addition was a follow-up to various meetings and limited meetings with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and also a number of related ministers including Finance Minister Sri Mulyani.

Amran said that with the addition of the budget, the fertilizer allocation reached 9.55 million tons, and it was officially decided through the Minister of Finance Letter Number S-297/MK.02.2024.

"This good news is what Indonesian farmers have been waiting for because this is part of the milestone in the return of farmers' needs, namely fertilizer. Thank God I signed this morning," said Amran.

According to Amran, there are important things that must be considered in the distribution so that they are right on target, namely the police together with the TNI and local governments in order to strengthen the supervision of kiosks and distributors so that irregularities do not occur.

"We entrust kiosks and distributors so as not to cheat. And for those who are naughty, just revoke the permit. Therefore, let's sing the arms and go down to the field because this is part of our struggle for Indonesian farmers," he said.

Amran said the volume of subsidized fertilizers in 2024 includes chemical and organic fertilizers for nine types of commodities such as rice, corn, soybeans, chilies, shallots, garlic, sugar cane for the people, coffee and cocoa.

He added that the allocation of fertilizer refers to the recommendations of the Ministry of Agriculture's Agricultural Instrument Standardization Agency (BSIP).

"I hope that the Governors, Regents and Mayors will immediately prepare an allocation plan per district and sub-district according to the 2024 e-RDKK data," said Amran.

Mamuju Regent Sitti Sutinah Suhardi expressed her gratitude for the struggle of Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman for the addition of fertilizer allocations that have been the needs of farmers so far.

In Mamuju, said Sitti, farmers still prioritize planting in rice and corn.

He explained that based on official data from the Central Statistics Agency in 2023, the rice harvest area in Mamuju reached 10,795 hectares with rice production reaching 53,084 tons or if converted to rice, it reached 34,807 tons.

"Furthermore, we continue to try to utilize irrigation, reservoirs, ditches and pumps to meet the water needs for rice fields in a number of sub-districts. Therefore, we would like to thank the Minister for the various assistance and attention from the Minister to Mamuju Regency," he said. Sitti.