MINISTER of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman asked his staff to socialize Minister of Agriculture Regulation Number 01 of 2024 as a revision of Minister of Agriculture Regulation Number 10 of 2022 concerning Procedures for Determining the Allocation and HET of Subsidized Fertilizer in the Agricultural Sector. This revision ensures the distribution of subsidized fertilizer is accurate and on target.
According to Amran, fertilizer is an important commodity in efforts to achieve national food security and production. Unfortunately, limited budget availability at the beginning of the year and an increase in the cost of goods sold (HPP) resulted in a reduction in the volume of subsidized fertilizer.
“Because of that, we are proposing that the allocation of subsidized fertilizer be increased from 4.73 million tons to 9.55 million tons. We are continuing to strive to increase the allocation of subsidized fertilizer, in accordance with the President’s direction and currently the DPR has approved it to return the allocation of subsidized fertilizer to 9. 55 million tons,” said Amran in his statement, Friday (3/5).
He revealed that in Minister of Agriculture Regulation Number 01 of 2024, there is an additional type of subsidized fertilizer, namely organic fertilizer. Previously there were only three types of subsidized fertilizer, namely urea, NPK and Special Formula NPK. Then, the distribution of subsidized fertilizer from retail kiosks to farmers is carried out based on e-RDKK data with allocation limits per sub-district determined through the Regent/Mayor’s Decree.
He added that the allocation of subsidized fertilizer is detailed based on the type of fertilizer, amount of fertilizer, and regional distribution. Meanwhile, considerations for determining the e-RDKK allocation and details of the allocation per region take into account the raw area of rice fields and sustainable food agricultural land (LP2B). “It is hoped that this second planting season will allow farmers to continue to increase production and accelerate planting without worrying about the availability of fertilizer,” he added.
Farmers who are entitled to subsidized fertilizer must join a farmer group (poktan) and be registered with e-RDKK and SIMLUHTAN. Amran added that data collection on recipient farmers via e-RDKK can be evaluated once every 4 months in the current year, so that data on recipient farmers and their needs can be updated when the e-RDKK system is opened.
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“The government hopes that the policy taken will receive support from all parties, so that the government’s duty to maintain food security continues to gain the trust of the public,” he explained.
Amran ensured that farmers did not have to worry about the availability of fertilizer. He said, there is still a large allocation of subsidized fertilizer this year. In the second and subsequent planting seasons, planting and production can be accelerated because the government has prepared subsidized fertilizer according to its allocation.
“In fact, absorption as of April 30 2024 compared to the initial allocation of 4.73 million tons is still low, namely 36.59%. If the amount that has been added (9.55 million tons) is 18.12%. So the allocation is still abundant , don’t worry,” he added.
Director General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities (PSP) Ali Jamil added, with the existence of Minister of Agriculture Regulation Number 01 of 2024, his party hopes that the problem of subsidized fertilizer and its solution will be put forward first. Farmers are given convenience in redeeming subsidized fertilizer.
“If a farmer experiences problems, such as being old, sick, or a very far distance from the kiosk so they can be represented, they will be accommodated with terms and conditions. This is to ensure that the objectives of the subsidized fertilizer program meet the targets that have been set,” concluded Ali. (Z-2)
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