By: Michelle Putri Santoso )*
Fertilizer is a vital component of the modern agricultural system, especially for an agrarian country like Indonesia, which is on the path to food self-sufficiency. In this context, the distribution of subsidized fertilizer plays a crucial role, not only as a production input but also as a determinant of national food security. The availability of adequate and timely fertilizer at the start of the planting season is an absolute requirement for achieving sustainable food production targets, as proclaimed by President Prabowo Subianto in his ambitious mission to make Indonesia self-sufficient in food.
The government’s commitment was evident when the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, took the strategic step of eliminating 145 regulations that had previously hampered the distribution of subsidized fertilizer. This policy paved the way for PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) to move more quickly in distributing fertilizer to various remote areas of the country, even to the westernmost tip of the archipelago, such as Aceh. This region is considered to have significant potential as a national food barn, and is now beginning to see the benefits of a more secure fertilizer supply.
The President Director of PT Pupuk Indonesia, Rahmad Pribadi, personally inspected the fertilizer distribution chain in Aceh. Traveling overland from Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport to Pidie Regency and then to the PT Pupuk Iskandar Muda (PIM) factory in North Aceh, Rahmad confirmed that there were no significant obstacles in the distribution of subsidized fertilizer in the region. He expressed optimism that fertilizer stocks in warehouses and kiosks were sufficient to meet the needs of the main planting season next October. Commercial fertilizers were also available to strengthen supplies in various regions.
Rahmad’s optimism was also based on the readiness of subsidized fertilizer distribution under a new scheme that began trials on July 17 and will be fully implemented on August 1, 2025, in accordance with Presidential Regulation Number 6 of 2025. This regulation is the result of extensive deregulation, eliminating dozens of laws, government regulations, and presidential decrees that have hampered fertilizer governance. This policy innovation expands the scope of beneficiaries, not only farmers but also fish farmers, and adds subsidized fertilizers such as SP-36 and ZA.
The recipient list has also been simplified. Previously, a decree from the regional head was required, but now a decree from the agriculture office is sufficient. This change is believed to expedite the distribution process, reduce the potential for bureaucratic red tape, and ensure farmers receive fertilizer at the appropriate planting season. Rahmad emphasized that fertilizer contributes up to 62 percent to agricultural productivity. This means that if fertilizer is available on time and on target, it will have a significant impact on achieving national food self-sufficiency.
The effectiveness of this new distribution system is also evident in the readiness of the actors in the field. Irma, a fertilizer kiosk owner in Pidie, said that she and the surrounding farmers had participated in the socialization of the new system and were ready to implement it. She stated that fertilizer distribution has been running well, and with the new system, it is expected to become more efficient. However, challenges remain. Said Adnan, a farmer from Gampong Dua Paya, stated that limited irrigation systems are a serious obstacle to maximizing agricultural land. Even though fertilizer is available, they cannot plant all the land during the dry season. He hopes the construction of a technical irrigation system can be completed soon after the Rukoh Dam is completed, so that the rice fields in his area can produce year-round.
The local government is also moving quickly, as Bahrum Syah, Head of the Facilities and Infrastructure Section of the Aceh Agriculture Service, stated that his office has socialized changes in fertilizer management to farmer groups. One important change is the addition of fertilizer delivery points, which can now be done at cooperatives or fish farming groups, in addition to retail kiosks. With the increase in the national subsidized fertilizer allocation from 4.7 million tons to 9.5 million tons, it is hoped that farmers can significantly increase their productivity.
Meanwhile, in other regions, such as Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi, the challenge of fertilizer distribution is also receiving serious attention. During a fertilizer distribution evaluation meeting for the first half of 2025, Regent Suwardi Haseng revealed the low absorption of subsidized fertilizer, reaching only 32 percent for urea and lower for other types. He instructed the Fertilizer and Pesticide Supervisory Commission to tighten supervision and asked all elements, from the Department of Agriculture to farmer groups, to increase outreach and improve the efficiency of fertilizer use.
Head of PT Pupuk Indonesia for the South Sulawesi region, Wisnu RamadhanHe also emphasized the need for synergy between parties, including distributors, retailers, field extension workers, and local governments, to increase fertilizer uptake. He emphasized the importance of reporting farmers who have changed professions or moved domicile so that fertilizer allocations can be redirected to active farmers who still need them. With a subsidized fertilizer budget reaching IDR 44 trillion, improving distribution efficiency is crucial to ensure the funds are properly targeted.
Fertilizer distribution is not merely a logistical matter, but an integral part of the broader food self-sufficiency strategy. Collaboration between the central and regional governments, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and farmers is the key foundation for this program’s success. Equitable fertilizer availability, streamlined regulations, and improvements to supporting infrastructure such as irrigation will be key determinants of Indonesia’s food security. If all elements work synergistically, President Prabowo’s goal of making Indonesia a self-sufficient nation in meeting its own food needs will not be just a dream, but an inevitability that is moving towards reality.
)* The author is an observer of economics and agriculture.
