REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) promised to increase fertilizer subsidies to address the fertilizer problems farmers have faced so far. The addition of this fertilizer subsidy, he believes, can be done because fertilizer supplies are also available.

Jokowi said the government would continue to monitor fertilizer issues on the ground. This was delivered by Jokowi at the Agricultural Extension and Babinsa of Central Java, in Pekalongan, Wednesday (13/12/2023).

“Returning to the farmers' affairs, Mr Minister of Agriculture said earlier that he will handle fertilizers in 2024, late 2023 and early 2024 and he will continue to control so that there are no problems in the field. The fertilizer subsidy I would add. Because the fertilizer supply is also there,” Jokowi explained.

But Jokowi has not yet delivered on the additional amount of fertilizer subsidies that will be provided. He said he would discuss and calculate this with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Agriculture first, and ask for approval from DPR RI.

“How much later will I announce that I have met the Minister of Finance, for a minute everything is calculated without that how much I will ask the Finance Minister to solve,” he said.

“Minister of Agriculture said that he first asked for approval from the Parliament of the Republic of Indonesia for the new Minister of Finance to add. But I promise fertilizer will be added to the subsidy,” Jokowi continued.

Jokowi claimed to understand the fertilizer problem facing farmers today. Because, he said, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman is also a former PPL (Field Farmer Extension). But he also often plunges into the field and meets the farmers.

“The problem was in the last year complaining about fertilizer, right? Anything that isn't problematic? Point my finger at the bike. The fertilizer thing will be Mentan's focus and will we settle for it? ,” Jokowi said.

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