NATUNA – PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero), as a state-owned company mandated as the producer and distributor of subsidized fertilizers, is committed to maintaining the availability of subsidized fertilizers, particularly in Natuna Regency, Riau Islands. Pupuk Indonesia has distributed 124.4 tons of subsidized fertilizer to this outermost region of Indonesia.

"We, from Pupuk Indonesia, are here today as part of our duty to serve farmers and ensure the availability of subsidized fertilizers, especially in Natuna, in line with the task given to us by the Ministry of Agriculture as a state-owned enterprise in the fertilizer sector," said Panji Winanteya Ruky, Director of Business Transformation at Pupuk Indonesia (first from the left on the article picture), during a dialogue with farmers in the Bunguran Tengah District at the Air Lengit Village Head Office, Natuna Regency, on Saturday (2/12/2023).

In support of the accelerated planting program initiated by Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, Panji stated that Pupuk Indonesia has provided a stock of subsidized fertilizer of approximately 312 tons for the Riau Islands region, including Natuna. This quantity is sufficient to meet the subsidized fertilizer needs of farmers for the next six months.

The stock of subsidized fertilizer is already available at Warehouse Line III in Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands. The types of fertilizer include 50 tons of Urea and 262 tons of NPK. To support the distribution process, Pupuk Indonesia is backed by distribution facilities such as 15 filling and distribution centers, 13 vessels with 222 sea transportation routes, 8,131 land transportation fleet, 581 warehouses with a capacity of 2.89 million tons, a network of 1,068 distributors, and 26,155 official kiosk partners.

"So, we from Pupuk Indonesia are ready to serve all farmers in the Riau Islands, especially in Natuna, because in Kepri, the stock is secure for the next six months, and we are also ready to meet the needs of subsidized fertilizer for the 2024 fiscal year," he added.

Panji also discussed the process of submitting subsidized fertilizer requirements to the Ministry of Agriculture. He urged farmers in Natuna Regency to promptly input their requirements according to the specified conditions to receive subsidized fertilizer allocations for the year 2024.

"We want to convey that December 5, 2023, is the deadline for submitting subsidized fertilizer requirements so that this opportunity can be maximized by farmers in Natuna to submit their needs and get approval from the Ministry of Agriculture," he concluded.

On this occasion, Pupuk Indonesia provided assistance in the form of 1 ton of non-subsidized fertilizer and an electric sprayer to 5 farmer groups in Natuna Regency. The distribution was done symbolically and witnessed by the Secretary of the Department of Food Security and Agriculture of Natuna Regency, Ismail Sitam, Sub-district Head of Bunguran Tengah, Suhandrik, and Village Head of Air Lengit, Kuswanto.

Until November 29, 2023, the subsidized fertilizer distributed by Pupuk Indonesia to the Riau Islands region amounted to 476 tons, or 85.7 percent of the total allocation of 555.3 tons. The distribution details for each regency are as follows: for Bintan, 8.85 tons of Urea and 116.10 tons of NPK; for Karimun Regency, 1.70 tons of Urea and 56.60 tons of NPK; for Natuna Regency, 24.35 tons of Urea and 100.05 tons of NPK; for Lingga Regency, 35.10 tons of Urea and 78.85 tons of NPK; for Tanjung Pinang Regency, 5.90 tons of Urea and 28.85 tons of NPK; Batam Regency does not have a Urea subsidy allocation but has an NPK subsidy with a realization of 28.85 tons.

As for the Anambas Regency, there is no realization of redemption for subsidized Urea and NPK fertilizer. Therefore, there is still an allocation balance until the end of the year, amounting to 11.46 tons of Urea and 67.84 tons of NPK, which can be utilized by farmers in the Riau Islands.

Subsidized fertilizer is distributed to farmers according to government regulations. According to Minister of Agriculture Regulation (Permentan) Number 10 of 2022, to receive subsidized fertilizer, farmers must be members of farmer groups, registered in the Agricultural Educator Management Information System (SIMLUHTAN), and cultivate a maximum of two hectares.

Additionally, the government has designated nine strategic commodities eligible for fertilizer subsidies, including rice, corn, soybeans, chili, shallots, garlic, coffee, sugar cane, and cocoa. These nine commodities are considered strategic agricultural commodities that impact inflation rates, making them a priority to enhance the effectiveness of fertilizer subsidies.