Kupang, December 16, 2023 – PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) continues its efforts to improve the supervision and absorption of subsidized fertilizers at the end of 2023. One of these efforts was carried out by conducting a field visit to the East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT) on Wednesday (12/13/2023). For this purpose, Jamsaton Nababan (fourth from the left of this article's picture), Director of Portfolio and Business Development at Pupuk Indonesia, visited several stakeholders involved in the supervision of subsidized fertilizers, including the police and the prosecutor's office. In addition, Jamsaton also observed various farming activities and the readiness of several distribution facilities of Pupuk Indonesia in NTT.

While checking the distribution readiness, Jamsaton also encouraged farmers and other stakeholders to optimize the absorption of subsidized fertilizers at the end of 2023. This is in support of the Accelerated Planting program of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia and to enhance agricultural productivity domestically.

"With two weeks left until the end of 2023, we hope that farmers and distributors can optimize the distribution of subsidized fertilizers. This distribution must pay attention to administrative order and compliance with applicable rules, especially ensuring that the distribution runs smoothly and reaches the intended targets," he said.

Furthermore, Jamsaton revealed that the redemption of subsidized fertilizers in NTT still needs improvement. Drought due to the El Nino phenomenon throughout 2023 is one of the causes.

"We are now entering the rainy season. To prepare for fertilizer absorption at the end of the year, entering the planting season in NTT, Pupuk Indonesia has a supply of subsidized fertilizers amounting to 13,113 tons for the farmers' needs until the end of this year," he emphasized.

The stock as of December 10, 2023, consists of 6,583 tons of Urea fertilizer, equivalent to 309 percent compared to the minimum requirements set by the Government. Then, 6,530 tons of NPK Phonska fertilizer, or 279 percent above the minimum government requirements.

"Our main goal in NTT is to ensure the readiness of the company, starting from warehouses, distributors, and kiosks in optimizing the absorption of subsidized fertilizers by farmers at the end of the year. These fertilizer stocks are now in Line III or district/city-level storage warehouses and are ready to be absorbed by farmers," said Jamsaton.

To ensure the smooth distribution of subsidized fertilizers in the 22 districts/cities in NTT, Pupuk Indonesia has prepared several distribution facilities, including 17 storage warehouses, 11 distributors, and 141 kiosks.

"Pupuk Indonesia also has 12 field officers in NTT who are ready to assist in the distribution process of subsidized fertilizers and ensure that all eligible farmers receive subsidized fertilizers in accordance with regulations," he said.

Furthermore, he also explained that not all farmers can get subsidized fertilizers. Farmers eligible for subsidized fertilizers must meet the criteria outlined in the Minister of Agriculture Regulation (Permentan) No. 10 of 2022, which includes mandatory membership in a farmer group, registration in the Agricultural Extension Management Information System (SIMLUHTAN), 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.

"As an effort to improve supervision, we also met with the Deputy Chief of Police, Acting Head of the Prosecutor's Office, and Head of the Department of Agriculture as our efforts to enhance synergy," he concluded."