Bone, July 6, 2024 - PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) supports the efforts to increase rice productivity and farmer welfare in Bone Regency, South Sulawesi, by providing more than 4,800 tons of subsidized fertilizer in early July 2024. This support aims to ensure the success of the pump irrigation program provided by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, during his visit to Jaling Village, Bone Regency, on Thursday (July 4, 2024).

Panji Winanteya Ruky, the Director of Business Transformation at Pupuk Indonesia, who attended the President's visit, stated that most of the agricultural land in Bone relies on rain-fed irrigation. To maintain productivity, the government is improving irrigation through the provision of 300 irrigation pumps. Farmers have previously relied solely on rainwater for irrigation, limiting them to one farming cycle per year.

"With the government's irrigation pump assistance, farmers in Bone can now cultivate their land up to three times a year, similar to typical agricultural land in Indonesia. To achieve optimal yields, the availability of fertilizers is crucial to increase productivity and improve farmers' welfare. Pupuk Indonesia is fulfilling its role by providing subsidized fertilizer stocks in accordance with regulations," Panji said.

In 2024, the Government of Bone Regency allocated 137,342 tons of subsidized fertilizer. This includes 61,500 tons of Urea, 61,290 tons of NPK Phonska, 2,100 tons of NPK Kakao, and 12,452 tons of Organic fertilizer.

The subsidized fertilizer stock currently available at kiosks and immediately accessible to Bone farmers includes 2,682 tons of subsidized Urea and 2,101 tons of NPK Phonska. Additionally, Pupuk Indonesia has prepared 34 tons of NPK Kakao in kiosks. This fertilizer stock is sufficient to meet the needs of Bone farmers for the next 14 days.

Furthermore, to ensure the smooth distribution of subsidized fertilizer in 27 districts in Bone, Pupuk Indonesia has prepared several supporting facilities. These include 4 Level III warehouses (at the regency level), 7 distributors, 139 kiosks, and 5 field officers who will ensure distribution and delivery comply with regulations, including conducting joint monitoring with government officials.

Panji explained that the distribution of subsidized fertilizer must be closely monitored due to the eligibility criteria for receiving subsidized fertilizer. Farmers eligible for subsidized fertilizer must meet the criteria outlined in the Minister of Agriculture Regulation (Permentan) Number 1 of 2024, which includes being a member of a farmer group, registered in the Agricultural Extension Management Information System (SIMLUHTAN), and cultivating a maximum of two hectares of land.

In addition, the strategic commodities eligible for fertilizer subsidies are limited to nine commodities: rice, corn, soybeans, chili, shallots, garlic, coffee, sugarcane, and cocoa.

"For farmers not listed as recipients of subsidized fertilizer, Pupuk Indonesia has prepared a solution through non-subsidized fertilizers available at kiosks. We hope that the available fertilizer stock can be optimally utilized by farmers to continuously improve their productivity and welfare," he concluded.