“If you raise the price, your business permit will be revoked that very same day. There is no longer any room to exploit Indonesian farmers,” the minister declared at a press conference on Wednesday.
His statement came as the government implemented a new policy reducing the maximum retail price of subsidized fertilizers by up to 20 percent, effective immediately.
According to the ministerial regulation, the price cut applies to all fertilizer types commonly used by farmers, including urea, organic fertilizers, cocoa-specific NPK, general NPK, and ZA fertilizers for sugarcane.
Sulaiman clarified that the reduction was achieved without increasing the state budget allocation for subsidies.
Instead, the government focused on improving industrial efficiency and streamlining the national fertilizer distribution system.
To support enforcement, the ministry has launched a dedicated hotline for reporting fertilizer pricing violations, accessible via 0823 1110 9690.
The minister assured that all reports will be thoroughly investigated and met with firm action.
“These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to eradicating illegal and corrupt practices in the agricultural sector,” he said.
“The President always says: eliminate corruptors, eliminate mafias. This is about the welfare of the people. We must fight together,” he added.
Sulaiman described the price reduction as another breakthrough under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership. He noted that for decades, fertilizer prices have typically increased every one to two years.
He attributed the current policy shift to the president’s earlier push for budgetary efficiency, which created the fiscal space needed to implement the price cut without additional subsidy spending.
Related news: Indonesia to build 7 new fertiliser factories worth Rp50 trillion
Related news: Indonesia, South Korea collaborate to advance cell-based food
Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
