Balikpapan, December 15, 2023 – Welcoming the planting season, PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) ensures the availability of subsidized fertilizers for farmers in the East Kalimantan Province. This was conveyed by Ninis Kesuma Adriani, Director of Risk Management at Pupuk Indonesia, during a working visit by the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission IV in Balikpapan on Tuesday (12/12/2023).

"After going through the El-Nino period, we will soon enter the planting season. Therefore, the availability of fertilizer is crucial for farmers to achieve the expected harvest," explained Ninis.

Meanwhile, Ninis also checked the readiness of Pupuk Indonesia's distribution facilities in East Kalimantan. This includes storage warehouses, distributors, and several official kiosks. During the visit, the availability of subsidized fertilizers in East Kalimantan was confirmed to be 3,870.6 tons. The breakdown includes 2,057.45 tons of Urea fertilizer, 1,768 tons of NPK fertilizer, and 45.15 tons of NPK Formula Special (Cocoa) fertilizer. In addition to distributors and official kiosks, Ninis further stated that Pupuk Indonesia will continue to work with the government and various other stakeholders to ensure the provision process of fertilizers, both subsidized and non-subsidized. According to her, fertilizer is one of the agricultural inputs that can help increase agricultural productivity and support national food security.

To facilitate the distribution of subsidized fertilizers to farmers in East Kalimantan, Pupuk Indonesia has highly adequate distribution facilities. These facilities include 11 storage warehouses, 8 distributors, and 125 official kiosks. As a form of supervision, Pupuk Indonesia has 8 field officers who also coordinate technically with various parties in the field. Until November 2023, a total of 8,097.3 tons of subsidized fertilizer (Urea & NPK) has been distributed to registered farmers in East Kalimantan. Meanwhile, for the realization of the Distribution of Special NPK Formula (Cocoa) Fertilizers in East Kalimantan Province, it reached 90.6 tons. Nationally, as of December 2023, 5,858,384 tons of subsidized fertilizer have been successfully distributed to registered farmers.

Ninis further explained that subsidized fertilizers are distributed to registered farmers who meet the criteria outlined in the Minister of Agriculture Regulation (Permentan) No. 10 of 2022, which includes being mandatory members of a farmer group, registered in the Agricultural Extension Management Information System (SIMLUHTAN), and e-allocation system of the Ministry of Agriculture, and cultivating a maximum of two hectares of land. In addition, strategic commodities eligible for fertilizer subsidies include rice, corn, soybeans, chili, shallots, garlic, coffee, sugar cane, and cocoa.

"For farmers not registered as recipients of subsidized fertilizer, Pupuk Indonesia has prepared a solution through non-subsidized fertilizers. As of December 8, 2023, Pupuk Indonesia in East Kalimantan Province has prepared 728.95 tons of non-subsidized Urea fertilizer and 559.42 tons of non-subsidized NPK. All these fertilizers are also available in Line II and III, Distributors, and Kiosks," Ninis concluded."