Ganjar Criticizes Jokowi About Subsidized Fertilizer: Government Says Calm Pupuk Exists, But Real Facts Are Not So

Presidential Candidate Ganjar Pranowo after attending a dialogue event at the IPB International Convention Center, Bogor City, West Java, Tuesday (19/12/2023). ANTARA/Rio Feisal

BOGOR - Presidential Candidate Ganjar Pranowo has a different view from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) regarding the availability of subsidized fertilizer supply.

Ganjar said that currently the facts on the ground are different from Jokowi's statement, so his party reminds the Government to be honest about the matter.

"After the debate (first) it was interesting. The government gathered all extension workers, gathered all distributors, and conveyed to the public 'calm, fertilizer exists', that's the language I heard. However, the facts are not like that. We need integrity and honesty on that matter," said Ganjar at the IPB International Convention Center, Bogor City, West Java, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 19.

Previously, Ganjar reminded Prabowo Subianto's presidential candidate regarding the scarcity of fertilizers that occurred in several regions in Indonesia.

"For Pak Prabowo, I must remind you that rare fertilizers occur in Papua, rare fertilizers occur in North Sumatra, rare fertilizers occur in NTT, NTB, East Kalimantan, including gasoline," said Ganjar in the first presidential candidate debate.

Ganjar alluded to this because Prabowo had served as General Chair of the National Management Board (DPN) of the Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association (HKTI) for two terms.

"Maybe, you forgot a little, for me you can remind because you were the General Chair of the DKTI, sir," added Ganjar.

Meanwhile, President Jokowi promised to add fertilizer subsidies to respond to complaints from farmers about the scarcity of fertilizer they experienced.

According to Jokowi, the issue of fertilizer will soon be resolved by the Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman and next year it will continue to be controlled so that there are no problems in distribution in the field.

"I will add additional fertilizer subsidies because there is also a supply of fertilizer," said the President when delivering a speech to agricultural instructors and babinsa throughout Central Java in Pekalongan, Wednesday (13/12), which was monitored online.

However, the President admitted that he could not announce the additional amount of fertilizer subsidies because it needed to be discussed further with the Minister of Finance and must be approved by the DPR.