Impact Of Complicated Distribution Chain, New Subsidy Fertilizer Distributed 50 Percent As Of June

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulhas (intermediate)

JAKARTA - The distribution of subsidized fertilizers until June 2024, has only reached 5 million tons or 50 percent of the total allocation of 9.5 million this year. The low absorption is due to the distribution chain being too complicated and long.

This was revealed by the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs (Menko Pangan) Zulkifli Hasan when met at the Ministry of Agriculture Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, November 12.

The man who is familiarly called Zulhas said that currently the distribution of fertilizer must go through several stages that involve many parties. Starting from a number of ministries to regional transfers, both regents and governors.

This year's fertilizer ration is 9.5 million. But only 5 million can be sent. Why? Because there must be a decree (decision letter) from the regent, a decree from the governor. There are proposals, complicated, contagious, very complicated, "he said.

Zulhas said that although the allocation of subsidized fertilizer prepared by the government was quite large, it reached 9.5 million tons, but because of complicated procedures, subsidized fertilizers were not absorbed properly.

"So even though the allocation is large, it's enough. But if the procedure is long-winded, contagious, in the end it can't be absorbed properly," he said.

Furthermore, Zulhas said that the current moment of regional head elections (Pilkada) also adds to the complexity of the distribution of subsidized fertilizers. This is because the regent's decree and governor can be delayed due to the change of regional head.

"If there is a regional election, the regent may not exist yet. Wait for the regent's decree, it can't be sent," he explained.

Therefore, Zulhas said the government agreed to cut regulations for the distribution of subsidized fertilizers. In the latest regulations later, decrees from regional heads are no longer needed.

"Well, we just had a meeting, we cut it. So the person in charge of subsidized fertilizers at the Ministry of Agriculture will decide on the decree. So it will no longer be from the regent, from the governor, from other ministries," he said.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said the government agreed to cut the flow of subsidized fertilizer distribution. He said that by cutting this regulation, fertilizers could be directly channeled to farmers.

"This is good news today. At the direction of the Coordinating Minister, we agreed that it was shortened, simplified, simplified. We represent the government, signed, made decisions for fertilizer distribution," Amran explained.

Amran said that after the Minister of Agriculture's Decree was issued, subsidy fertilizers could be directly distributed by PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) to the Farmers Group Association (Gapoktan).

"We leave it to PIHC, PI Pupuk Indonesia, PI Indonesia directly direct to farmer groups. So it's very simple," he said.