Gov’t to Increase Subsidized Fertilizer Allocation

President Jokowi, accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, inspects the new food estate area in Humbang Hasundutan. (Photo by: BPMI-Setpres)

Ministry of Agriculture has announced it will provide an additional allocation of subsidized fertilizers this year to become 9 million tons plus 1.5 million liters of liquid organic fertilizer, higher than that of last year at 8.9 million tons.

“Hopefully, more farmers can receive subsidized fertilizer, which will be provided to farmers registered in the Farmer Group Needs Definitive Plan (RDKK) system according to the proposal submitted by regional governments to Ministry of Agriculture,” Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo said, Monday (11/1) quoted from pertanian.go.id web page.

Based on Minister of Agriculture Regulation Number 49/2020, subsidized fertilizers are intended for farmers who have joined farmer groups registered in the Electronic Farmer Group Needs Definitive Plan (e-RDKK). For that reason, the Minister instructed his ranks to complete the downstream level movement of the fertilizer subsidy.

“This year, we must monitor the movement from distributors to agents in districts and villages. If it can run smoothly, then the availability of subsidized fertilizers will be fulfilled,” he said.

In the meantime, Director-General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities at Ministry of Agriculture Sarwo Edhy said that based on the e-RDKK regulated by the farmer groups, subsidized fertilizers recipient farmers are those who carry out farming in the food crops to expand new planting areas, plantation, horticulture, and livestock subsectors with a maximum of ​​two hectares land.

“The implementation of subsidized fertilizer distribution using farmers cards (Kartu Tani) will be conducted gradually. For now, the cards can only be used in several regions. We will do it in stages until the cards have been distributed throughout Indonesia according to the data on subsidized fertilizer recipients,” Sarwo said.

Meanwhile, The Minsitry’s Director of Fertilizer and Pesticides Muhammad Hatta said that subsidized fertilizer distribution is carried out through the e-RDKK system so that subsidy recipients are well-targeted.

For the record, the preparation of the e-RDKK comes from the farmer groups through a number of verification stages as the basic data needed for subsidized fertilizer recipients.

“If we find any kiosks try to make it difficult for farmers to redeem the subsidy, we will not hesitate to revoke their license,” he said. (PR of Ministry of Agriculture/UN) (RIF/LW)