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Langgam Pos - PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) launched the "Pupuk Indonesia Menyapa" program at the Balai Desa Kampung Telaga in the Kurik District of Merauke Regency, South Papua. This initiative underscores the company's commitment to establishing Merauke as a national food hub.
Rahmad Pribadi, President Director of Pupuk Indonesia, explained that "PI Menyapa" serves as a communication and coordination platform with various stakeholders in the field.
The program aims to accelerate the distribution of subsidized fertilizers in Indonesia's easternmost regions and boost agricultural productivity to ensure national and regional food security.
"Pupuk Indonesia is reaching out to everyone working hard to advance Indonesian agriculture, including field extension workers (PPL), verification and validation teams, official kiosks, distributors, the government, farmer groups, KTNA (Farmer and Fishermen Contact Association), and other stakeholders. We are here to acknowledge their efforts and conduct joint redemption activities," said Rahmad Pribadi on Friday, July 26, 2024.
To facilitate farmers in redeeming subsidized fertilizers, Pupuk Indonesia has introduced a joint redemption program. This service allows farmers to redeem their subsidized fertilizers at a single location, such as the Balai Desa Kampung Telaga Sari, using their farmer cards or ID cards.
Ensuring Fertilizer Availability
During his visit to Merauke, Rahmad Pribadi ensured the availability of subsidized fertilizers by inspecting various kiosks, warehouses, and farms. This region is deemed crucial for national food security.
As of July 20, 2024, Pupuk Indonesia has prepared a stock of 5,890 tons of subsidized fertilizers for all of Papua, with 3,530 tons stored at the Lini III Warehouse in Merauke.
The breakdown includes 1,955 tons of Urea fertilizer and 1,575 tons of NPK Phonska fertilizer for Merauke farmers. This stock exceeds the minimum government-mandated levels.
"I have visited the warehouse in Tanah Miring, the easternmost warehouse owned by Pupuk Indonesia. I am confident about Merauke, and Mrs. Yosefa Loise Rumaseu, Head of the Department of Food Crops, Horticulture, and Plantations of Merauke Regency, agrees that Merauke can be a food hub both regionally and nationally," Rahmad affirmed.
Increased Subsidized Fertilizer Allocation
To enhance agricultural productivity and maintain national food security, the government has increased the national allocation of subsidized fertilizers from 4.7 million tons to 9.55 million tons for 2024. This increase also benefits farmers in Merauke.
The current allocation of Urea fertilizer in Merauke is 8,730 tons, up 72.4% from the initial 2024 allocation of 5,065 tons. The latest NPK allocation stands at 14,322 tons, a 125.3% increase from the previous allocation of 6,360 tons.
To ensure smooth distribution of subsidized fertilizers in Merauke, Pupuk Indonesia has set up supporting facilities including three Lini III warehouses with a total capacity of 6,000 tons, two distributors, 55 kiosks, and three field officers to oversee the distribution process.
Merauke's Fertile Agriculture
Rahmad Pribadi added that field observations reveal Merauke's agricultural land is quite fertile and holds significant development potential. Currently, rice productivity in Merauke averages 3 to 4 tons per hectare.
With extensive agricultural land, such as Kampung Telaga Sari with approximately 1,058 hectares dedicated to rice cultivation, Pupuk Indonesia is pushing for faster redemption of subsidized fertilizers to increase productivity in Merauke.
"Merauke has also been visited by President Joko Widodo recently. It is unique; while rice prices elsewhere are rising, they remain lower here. This is crucial for national food security," concluded Rahmad.
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