MATARAM - PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) revealed that subsidized fertilizer stocks in West Nusa Tenggara Province were recorded 3 times the minimum stock provisions set by the Government. This was disclosed by Pupuk Indonesia's SVP Sales for the Eastern Region, Muhammad Yusri during a visit to the Line II Warehouse, Lembar, West Lombok, NTB, Friday (10/2/2023).

Yusri said that subsidized fertilizer stocks in NTB were recorded at 47,805 tons as of February 9, 2023. This figure consisted of 37,369 tons of Urea, 10,436 tons of NPK or overall fertilizer stocks in West Nusa Tenggara equal to 306 percent of the minimum stock requirement.

"The stock of Urea fertilizer which reached 37,369 tons is equivalent to 357 percent of the minimum stock requirements set by the government, while the NPK fertilizer stock of 10,436 tons is equivalent to 203 percent of the provisions. Thus, according to the provisions, the stock of Urea and NPK fertilizers is sufficient to meet the needs of farmers for the next 4 weeks," said Yusri.

Yusri further stated that Pupuk Indonesia as a producer always distributes subsidized fertilizers in accordance with applicable regulations. Pupuk Indonesia has also instructed authorized distributors and retailers to provide stock in accordance with applicable regulations.

"We will continue to monitor the availability of stock at authorized distributors and retailers and will not hesitate to give warnings to anyone in our distribution network if they violate the applicable provisions," he said. 

While in terms of distribution or distribution of subsidized fertilizers in NTB as of date 9 February 2023, Yusri said that Pupuk Indonesia had distributed 52,612 tons, this figure consisted of 36,281 tons of Urea fertilizer and 16,331 tons of NPK. This amount has reached 18.5 percent of the total allocation for NTB of 283,876 tons consisting of an allocation of 177,021 tons of Urea and 106,836 tons of NPK.

Yusri ensures that all of the subsidized fertilizer distributed by Pupuk Indonesia for farmers has met the requirements in Minister of Agriculture Regulation No. 10 of 2022. Based on the regulation, farmers who are entitled to receive it must join a farmer group, be registered with SIMLUHTAN (Agricultural Extension Management Information System), work on a maximum of two hectares of land, and using a Farmer's Card (for certain areas).

He further appealed to farmers who are entitled to subsidized fertilizer to redeem it at the official kiosks that have been determined to serve local farmers/farmer groups. The fertilizers that are still receiving subsidy allocations are urea and NPK.

"It should also be noted, Minister of Agriculture Number 10 of 2022 also stipulates only nine commodities that receive subsidized fertilizer, namely rice, corn, soybeans, chilies, shallots, garlic, sugar cane, cocoa, and coffee. These nine commodities are strategic agriculture which have an impact on inflation so that other commodities no longer receive allocations," he said.

By looking at stock conditions and the realization of the distribution of subsidized fertilizers, Yusri ensures that Pupuk Indonesia as a producer has met the needs for subsidized fertilizers according to the allocation set by the Government.

"The problem with subsidized fertilizers, such as the issue of scarcity that is currently occurring, is that it comes from farmers/farmer groups outside of the plant commodities that have been set by the Government and a reduction in the types of subsidized fertilizers. Plant commodities that previously received subsidies were approximately 70 commodities, currently there are only 9 commodities. In addition, currently there are only 2 (two) types of subsidized fertilizers, namely Urea and NPK fertilizers, from previously there were 6 types of fertilizers," he continued

Therefore, especially in NTB as one of the tobacco producers in Indonesia, it is based on the rule that tobacco is not a commodity that is entitled to subsidized fertilizer. “For example, the previously subsidized ZA and SP-36 fertilizers are fertilizers that are often used by tobacco farmers in NTB. Based on the regulations, currently apart from tobacco not being a subsidized crop commodity, ZA and SP-36 fertilizers for 2023 are not included in subsidized fertilizers, this is important for us to know together," he concluded.

Apart from commodity issues and fertilizer types, NTB, which is a corn producer, especially on Sumbawa Island, has a lot of corn planted on land with a slope of more than 30 degrees. In accordance with local rules and policies, they do not receive subsidized fertilizer allocations.

"Although corn is a subsidized commodity, there is a specific case on Sumbawa Island, where farmers with land slopes of more than 30 degrees do not receive subsidized fertilizer allocations," concluded Yusri.