Ngawi, April 7, 2024 - Farmers in Ngawi Regency, East Java, no longer need to worry when redeeming subsidized fertilizers at kiosks. This is because PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) has implemented the digitization of fertilizer redemption using the i-Pubers (Integrated Subsidized Fertilizer) application. With this application, registered farmers only need to present their Identity Card (KTP).

The implementation of the i-Pubers application is a follow-up action by Pupuk Indonesia in response to President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) directives, which were conveyed through technical implementation guidelines (juknis) issued by the Directorate General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities (PSP) of the Ministry of Agriculture.

"Pupuk Indonesia has implemented digital redemption using the i-Pubers application in Ngawi Regency, East Java. We hope that all farmers with subsidized fertilizer allocations can experience convenience in the redemption process at kiosks," said GM of Region 2 of Pupuk Indonesia, Roh Eddy Andri W.

The i-Pubers application is a result of collaboration between Pupuk Indonesia and the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan). This application is intended to facilitate registered farmers in the process of redeeming subsidized fertilizers by implementing integrated data at distributor partners (kiosks) between the list of e-allocation subsidy recipients and fertilizer stock data available at Pupuk Indonesia. As of February 1, 2024, the implementation of i-Pubers has reached 100 percent nationwide and is available in more than 27,000 kiosks across the country.

This digital redemption process addresses reports of subsidized fertilizer absorption or redemption that have not been maximized, one of which is in Ngawi Regency, East Java. Based on available data, there are a total of 106,067 farmers who have redeemed subsidized fertilizers, or 96.68 percent of the total number of farmers, which amounts to 109,709 farmers registered in the e-RDKK in 2023.

Upon closer examination, subsidized fertilizer redemption in several regions is not 100 percent due to several technical reasons, such as farmers who have passed away or farmers who have passed away cannot pass on their fertilizer allocation to their families. Through the i-Pubers application, registered farmers can still redeem even if there are some technical obstacles such as discrepancies between data and KTP. The solution is for farmers to bring a Certificate from the Village Head/Chief explaining the data for the same farmer or a family card as a requirement to conduct transactions. Next, the farmers report these obstacles to local agricultural extension officers to be registered as recipients of subsidized fertilizer for the following year according to their KTP.

If a recipient farmer has passed away, then the remaining allocation can still be redeemed by the heirs by showing proof of a death certificate and an inheritance certificate acknowledged by the local village authorities as a requirement to conduct transactions. The heirs report to agricultural extension officers to be registered as subsidized fertilizer recipients in the following year.

If the KTP is lost, farmers can report to the local Police Sector Office to request a statement of loss of goods in the form of a KTP, then apply for a new KTP at the local Population and Civil Registration Office (Disdukcapil). If a farmer moves kiosks, then the farmer can redeem at the new retailer kiosk after changing the retailer kiosk in the i-Pubers application.

Redemption can also be done collectively or represented, with the note that in emergency/force majeure situations such as health reasons, advanced age, transportation, redemption is done by the group leader/group manager who is authorized, such as bringing a power of attorney letter accompanied by a photocopy of the registered farmer's KTP, the recipient of the power of attorney signs the subsidized fertilizer sales receipt through the i-Pubers application, the KTP of the recipient of the power of attorney is photographed using the i-Pubers application, and after the transaction, the recipient of the power of attorney and the redeemed goods are photographed using the i-Pubers application.

However, Pupuk Indonesia has successfully fulfilled 100 percent of the government's assignment target by distributing 6.19 million tons of subsidized fertilizers to farmers. This positive performance was achieved by the company amidst complex global challenges in 2023, such as climate change and geopolitical conflicts that affected fertilizer commodity prices.

The i-Pubers application aims to increase the accuracy and accountability of the subsidized fertilizer redemption process at Pupuk Indonesia kiosks in synergy with Kementan to facilitate the subsidized fertilizer redemption process through the i-Pubers application, which was launched last year in 6 provinces. As of January 24, 2024, this digital application has been implemented at 27,125 kiosks across Indonesia.

In addition, Pupuk Indonesia continues to innovate and utilize digitalization technology to ensure the smooth distribution channel after ensuring fertilizer stock availability so that fertilizer production and distribution capabilities can be continuously improved. The Distribution Planning and Control System (DPCS) technology is utilized to monitor the distribution of subsidized fertilizers in an integrated manner.

"With the i-Pubers application, farmers can redeem subsidized fertilizers much faster and easier, because it can be done simply by bringing their KTP for registered farmers in the RDKK," he concluded.