Airlangga Hartarto: Additional Budget Of IDR 14 Trillion For Subsidized Fertilizer, Target Of 7.7-7.8 Million Tons Must Be Achieved

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto (center) took a group photo after attending the 2024 Fertilizer Discount Festival in Cikarang, Bekasi,

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, announced that the government has increased the budget of IDR 14 trillion for the provision of subsidized fertilizers. This step was taken with the aim of achieving the subsidized fertilizer procurement target of 7.7-7.8 million tons this year.

"The government provides 5.2 million tons of subsidized fertilizer this year, then the allocation is added by the President (Joko Widodo) as much as 2.5 million tons, in accordance with the procurement target of 7.7 to 7.8 million tons," said Airlangga Hartarto in Bekasi Regency, West Java, on Sunday, February 4.

The addition of this allocation aims to overcome the subsidized fertilizer shortage which will be given to 14.3 million farmers this year. President Jokowi has approved an additional budget of IDR 14 trillion from the original ceiling of IDR 26 trillion for the procurement of an additional 2.5 million tons of subsidized fertilizer.

Airlangga Hartarto expressed his intention to ask the Ministry of Agriculture and the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately realize this assistance, ensuring that fertilizers can be immediately available to farmers.

The allocation of subsidized fertilizers in Bekasi Regency reached 9,111 tons, with distribution of 15 percent or 1,367 tons as of February 3, 2024. PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) as a fertilizer distributor through Gudang Lini III has accommodated 4,088 tons of subsidized fertilizer in the area.

In an effort to reduce the government's burden, Airlangga Hartarto asked PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) to help provide fertilizer at affordable prices. The state-owned company also held a Fertilizer Discount Festival from January to February 2024 to support the planting season earlier this year.

Bekasi Regency is the 29th location of the 42 target of implementing the 2024 Pupuk Discount Gebyar. PT Pupuk Indonesia distributed 1,000 cheap cane coupons for non-subsidized fertilizer to farmers in the area, providing a 40 percent discount for the purchase of one non-subsidized fertilizer package.

"I am happy that today there is a discount on fertilizer because agricultural problems are the government's main concern," said Airlangga Hartarto