Govt to tighten fertilizer distribution mechanism

Mataram, NU Online
The government plans to tighten its subsidized fertilizer distribution mechanism in a move to prevent leakages in the distribution of the commodity to farmers, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said.

"We will tighten the mechanism. All sides involved in the distribution process must be registed," she said following a coordination meeting with local officials here on Saturday (13/9).<>

She said subsidized fertilizer must be distributed according to its appropriation so as not to cause a problem in the future.

Therefore, the government was required to control the distribution of subsidized fertilizer to ensure that the commodity would go to those entitled to it, she said.

"In essence, the fertilizer must go to those entitled to it. Therefore, its distribution must be tightened. The trucks carrying it must be registered," she said.

The Agriculture Ministry was authorized to ensure the availability of fertilizers, while the Trade Ministry was only responsible for the partern of distributing the commodity, she said.

But she promised to coordinate with Agriculture Minister Anton Apriantono in fulfilling farmers` demand for urea-based fertilizer in West Nusa Tenggara.

In the coordination meeting, Head of the West Nusa Tenggara Food Crops and Horticulture Office Dr Mashur said the province was under a threat of urea-based fertilizer shortage.

He said 116,335 tons of urea-based fertilizer allotted to the province this year would soon run out. (ant/dar)