PT PI Prepares Pupuk Needs In South Sulawesi

Fertilizer (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) (PT PI) fully supports the government's program in boosting rice productivity in South Sulawesi (Sulsel) through stock readiness and convenience for farmers in redeeming subsidized fertilizers.

President Director of Pupuk Indonesia Rahmad Pribadi said that his party will always ensure the readiness and ease of subsidized fertilizers to optimize the rice productivity program in South Sulawesi.

"The government has increased the allocation of subsidized fertilizers in 2024 from 4.7 million tons to 9.55 million tons. To support increased agricultural productivity in maintaining national food security, Pupuk Indonesia ensures subsidized fertilizer stocks in various areas are safe according to regulations. In addition, the ease of farmers in redeeming subsidized fertilizers," he quoted Antara as saying.

Currently, farmers who have been registered as recipients of subsidized fertilizers just come to the kiosk with their ID cards, can make a redeem. This facility is after Pupuk Indonesia implemented the i-Pubers application at 27,000 kiosks that have been spread in Indonesia.

Rahmad said that Pupuk Indonesia continues to tighten supervision of the distribution of subsidized fertilizers so that they are right on target.

Farmers who are entitled to subsidized fertilizers must meet the criteria contained in the Minister of Agriculture Regulation (Permentan) Number 1 of 2024, namely that they must be joined in farmer groups, registered in the Agricultural Extension Management Information System (SIMLUHTAN), working on a maximum land of two hectares.

In addition, strategic commodities that are entitled to receive fertilizer subsidies are limited to nine commodities, namely rice, corn, soybeans, chilies, shallots, garlic, coffee, sugar cane, and cocoa.

Meanwhile, Pupuk Indonesia provides a national subsidized fertilizer stock of 1,209,509 tons consisting of 688,936 tons of urea and 520,573 tons of NPK, including special formulas.

From this national stock, the availability in South Sulawesi was recorded at 819,803 tons consisting of 170,116 tons of subsidized urea fertilizer, 126,346 tons of Phonska NPK, and 3,180 tons of cocoa NPK.

The stock currently prepared by Pupuk Indonesia for farmers in South Sulawesi is 79,777 tons. The supply consists of subsidized ureas as much as 39,764 tons or 244 percent of the minimum stock regulated by the government, namely 16,300 tons.

The next stock is NPK Phonska of 36,436 tons or 246 percent of the minimum provisions of 14,808 tons, and cocoa NPK of 3,577 tons or 212 percent of the minimum provisions required by the government of 1,865 tons.

All stocks as of July 2, 2024 are currently in line III warehouses or district/city levels, so it is safe to meet the fertilizer needs of farmers in South Sulawesi for the next 14 days.

"We hope that the stock and allocation of subsidized fertilizers can be optimized by farmers to increase agricultural productivity and the welfare of farmers and in order to maintain national food security," said Rahmad.

On Friday (5/7/2024), President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) visited an agricultural area in Gantarangkekeke District, Bantaeng Regency, South Sulawesi.

He said that Bantaeng farmers have only been able to grow rice in a year due to the difficulty of water.

The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, provides assistance with 80 pumps for irrigation, so that in a year farmers can grow rice up to three times.

"I went to Bantaeng Regency to see the installation of pumping. Farmers said that there is only one harvest here, because the water does not exist. With this pump, the second has been planted. We hope that later it can enter the third planting. This will increase our national rice productivity," said Jokowi.