it is vital to support our farmers by providing them with subsidized fertilizers they needMakassar (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman affirmed that the government would increase the budget allocated for subsidized fertilizers by Rp14 trillion (around US$900 million) to help all Indonesian farmers.
"President Joko Widodo has approved the additional budget of Rp14 trillion. He has asked me to ensure that the subsidized fertilizers are received by farmers," he remarked during his visit to Bone District, South Sulawesi, on Monday.
In the province, he paid visits to the districts of Bone, Wajo, as well as Jeneponto. In Bone, he met with about 2,200 agricultural workers, including extension workers, young farmers, and fertilizer distributors and agents.
Sulaiman affirmed that he was committed to ensuring sufficient stocks of seeds, seedlings, and fertilizers to support the development of agricultural activities, especially in South Sulawesi.
He highlighted that the government had prepared several concrete steps aimed at ramping up the production of rice and corn, including by supporting and strengthening the role and function of agricultural extension workers.
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"Agricultural extension workers play a strategic role in disseminating the latest information and technology to farmer groups, with the end goal of stimulating economic growth, particularly in Bone, Soppeng, and Sinjai districts," he elaborated.
Head of the Office of Food Crops, Horticulture, and Plantations of South Sulawesi, Imran Jausi, extended the provincial government's appreciation to the central government for its decision to allocate an additional budget for subsidized fertilizers.
"In order to reach food self-sufficiency, it is vital to support our farmers by providing them with subsidized fertilizers they need," he remarked.
This year, the allocated subsidized fertilizers for South Sulawesi comprise 238 thousand tons of urea fertilizers, 173 thousand tons of Phonska fertilizer, and over six thousand tons of special fertilizer for cocoa.
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Translator: Nur Sahra, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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