Deputy Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono said the village cooperatives will enhance the distribution system that has so far supported agricultural productivity.
“Farmers can gain full access to agricultural inputs through the village cooperatives, starting from subsidized fertilizers, non-subsidized fertilizers, organic fertilizers, to pesticides,” he said in a statement here on Friday.
He noted that the Ministry of Cooperatives is encouraging the strengthening of the Red and White Village Cooperatives as strategic partners of the government in the subsidized fertilizer supply chain to improve distribution control.
According to him, involving village cooperatives as distributors is part of efforts to enhance their role in national food security and to serve as a driving force for rural economic independence and food self-sufficiency.
Meanwhile, Head of the Center for Agricultural Training at the Agricultural Extension and Human Resources Development Agency (BPPSDMP) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Tedy Dirhamsyah, said his office is making efforts to encourage the role of farmer group associations in distribution.
These efforts include identifying farmers who could potentially become members of the associations.
He added that the government is also encouraging farmer groups to form associations to strengthen their position, giving them greater bargaining power as well as opportunities to build networks and partnerships.
However, Dirhamsyah acknowledged that several challenges remain in making farmer associations distributors of subsidized fertilizers, including limited capital, warehouse facilities, and human resources.
He emphasized the importance of advisors in assisting farmer associations so they can operate effectively and access financial facilities.
According to BPPSDMP data, there are currently 290 farmer group associations, 29 farmer groups, and 406 cooperatives serving as distributors of subsidized fertilizers nationwide.
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Translator: Subagyo, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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