LAMPUNG (14/6) - PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) ensures that cocoa farmers in Lampung Province can redeem subsidized fertilizer of the NPK Special Formula Cocoa type at official kiosks. This was conveyed by SVP PSO for the Western Region of Pupuk Indonesia, Fickry Martawisuda during the Socialization and Initial Fertilization of NPK Cocoa Special Formulas in Sales for the Western Region covering the entire island of Sumatra, West Java & Banten, to Central Java & DIY.

Fickry said that the redemption of Cocoa Special Formula NPK fertilizer in Lampung Province could only be done by farmers who had allocations on e-Allocations or had met the criteria. In this case based on the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture (Permentan) Number 10 of 2022 concerning Procedures for Determining the Allocation and Highest Retail Price (HET) of Subsidized Fertilizers in the Agricultural Sector.

"To those of you who have registered and have e-Allocation for NPK Special Formula Cocoa, please redeem at the official kiosk," said Fickry, Wednesday (14/6/2023).

Fickry explained that farmers who are entitled to subsidized fertilizer allocations in accordance with Minister of Agriculture Number 10 of 2022 are farmers who must join farmer groups, be registered in the Agricultural Extension Management Information System (SIMLUHTAN), and cultivate a maximum of two (2) hectares of land. If the farmer does not meet these criteria, it is certain that he will not receive the subsidized fertilizer allocation set by the Government.

During the socialization and fertilization activities of the NPK Special Cocoa Formula, Fickry revealed that as a producer, Pupuk Indonesia provides an allocation of subsidized fertilizer according to government regulations. Meanwhile, the planned need for subsidized fertilizer NPK Special Formula Cacao in Lampung Province for one year is 10,646 tons.

According to Fickry, the figure for this need is based on a letter from the Director General of PSP Number B-01/RC.210/B/01/2023 regarding Submission of Subsidized Fertilizer Allocation Data. For the West Region PSO received an allocation of 25,920 tons and for the province of Lampung, namely 10,646 tons.

"In the first phase, mid-May 2023, Pupuk Indonesia has provided 200 tons and now an additional 2,300 tons have been shipped from Bontang to the Padimas Warehouse in Lampung," Fickry added.

Fickry further revealed that the plan for the need for NPK Special Formula Cocoa in Lampung Province, amounting to 10,646 tons, will be distributed to ten (10) regencies, namely; South Lampung, Central Lampung, West Lampung, Tanggamus, East Lampung, Pesawaran, Pringsewu, North Lampung, Way Kanan, and West Coast.

For information, Pupuk Indonesia has distributed subsidized fertilizers in Lampung Province as of June 12, 2023 totaling 244,318 tons of subsidized fertilizer consisting of 140,788 Urea, 103,381 tons of NPK Phonska and 150 tons of NPK Cocoa. Then for the stock in Lampung Province there is a total stock of all subsidized fertilizer products, namely 41,985 tons or 244% of the government's minimum requirement of 17,200 tons.

After Lampung, Fickry said that Pupuk Indonesia would again distribute subsidized fertilizer NPK Special Formula Cocoa to other provinces such as Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra. According to Fickry, NPK Cocoa is designed according to the needs of the cocoa plant so that it can produce optimally and increase productivity.

Cocoa Special Formula NPK Fertilizer is made through a mechanical blending process with the formula 14-12-16-4 Mg. Cocoa Special Formula NPK Fertilizer is also enriched with micro elements, namely CaO, S, ZnO and B2O3 to improve fruit quality and protect plants against disease attacks," Fickry concluded.

On the same occasion, the Head of the Food Crops, Horticulture and Plantation Department of the Lampung Regency Agriculture Service, Yenni, revealed that the presence of subsidized fertilizer NPK Special Cocoa Formula was expected to help increase the productivity of cocoa plants. This is because Kalianda District is one of the areas that has the largest cocoa plantation area in Lampung Province, which is around 2,760 hectares.

"This NPK Cocoa Special Formula is the first for Kecapi Village, Kalianda. We hope that all these farmers will benefit, especially in increasing the production and productivity of cocoa plants, especially in Kalianda and Lampung Province," said Yenni.