Subang, October 21, 2024 – PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) is committed to continuously enhancing the productivity of the Makmur Program (“Mari Kita Majukan Usaha Rakyat” or "Let’s Advance People's Enterprises") by implementing precision agriculture technology called “Preci-Rice” for rice cultivation in Mekarjaya Village, Compreng District, Subang Regency, West Java. During a harvest event attended by Tri Wahyudi Saleh, Marketing Director of Pupuk Indonesia, on Monday (21/10/2024), Mekarjaya farmers saw an increase in their harvest yields from 10 tons/ha to 11 tons/ha.

"Rice productivity in Subang has already been high, well above the national average. Alhamdulillah, with the Preci-Rice technology, we managed to optimize the harvest even further, achieving an 8.54 percent increase," said Tri Wahyudi Saleh.

He further explained that Preci-Rice is a technology developed by Pupuk Indonesia to detect soil nutrient levels, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), in rice crops. This drone-based technology provides quick and precise fertilization recommendations tailored to the specific needs of the crops.

In collaboration with the Sumber Jaya Farmer Group in Mekarjaya Village, the Preci-Rice technology has mapped an area of 174 hectares. The recommendation provided by Preci-Rice included 368 kg/ha of NPK and 189 kg/ha of urea.

In practice, farmers applied 200 kg of NPK and 200 kg of urea at 7–15 days after planting, sourced from the subsidized fertilizer allocation as per the RDKK during the first fertilization. Due to a difference in fertilizer needs as determined by the Preci-Rice drone mapping, an additional recommendation of non-subsidized fertilizers was made, including 100 kg of Nitrea, 150 kg of NPK Phonska Plus, and 50 kg of Nitrokal during the second fertilization at 25–30 days after planting.

"We provide guidance, conducting drone mapping to assess the fertility of the crops. We identify what nutrients the crops are lacking, so farmers don’t apply fertilizers haphazardly," said Tri Wahyudi Saleh.

"This is part of our educational efforts; with precise fertilization, the number of rice tillers increases, leading to a more optimal harvest," he added.

He further noted that the Preci-Rice technology supports the services of the Mobile Soil Testing Unit (MUT), which is also part of the Makmur Program's cultivation guidance. While Preci-Rice detects the nutrient needs of crops, the MUT assesses the nutrient content in the soil.

Meanwhile, the Makmur Program is an agricultural ecosystem that covers both upstream and downstream aspects, including on-farm and off-farm activities. Pupuk Indonesia's role includes providing cultivation guidance. In Subang, the Makmur Program also collaborates with Bulog, ID FOOD, Sang Hyang Seri, ASKRINDO, and other stakeholders as part of a joint commitment to advancing the agricultural sector in Subang Regency.

At a national level, Pupuk Indonesia's implementation of the Makmur Program has already exceeded its target. The realization from January to September 2024 covered 368,324 hectares, or 136 percent of the 2024 target of 350,000 hectares. The program currently benefits 145,928 farmers.

At the same event, Jekvy Hendra, Director of Fertilizers and Pesticides at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, added that the agricultural sector faces challenges such as soil degradation and declining productivity. These challenges must be addressed with technological solutions and guidance. The strategic steps taken by Pupuk Indonesia are a concrete effort and a significant contribution to the advancement of agriculture in Indonesia, he noted.

Jekvy Hendra further explained, "Balanced fertilization that takes soil quality into account is crucial, as there are many areas in Indonesia that use excessive fertilizers. In some places, farmers use 800 kg/ha when the actual need is only 175 kg/ha. There has been a misunderstanding in information delivery, and we are very grateful to Pupuk Indonesia for providing technology for precise fertilization,” he concluded.