INFOKU, BLORA –Farmers in Blora are starting to feel uneasy, because the amount of subsidized fertilizer is decreasing.
Evenly distributed in a number of areas due to the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan).
Initially there were six types of subsidized fertilizers allocated. Now, the remaining two fertilizers namely urea and nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (NPK).
Of course, causing farmers to switch to non-subsidized fertilizers which are more expensive.
Head of the Blora Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Food Service (DP4) Gundala Wejasena is trying to increase the use of organic fertilizers.
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The reduction in subsidized fertilizer has been regulated by Minister of Agriculture Regulation (Permentan) Number 10 of 2022. ''For urea it is 70 percent of the requirement and NPK is 40 percent," he explained.
Gundala added, this reduction made farmers tend to buy expensive non-subsidized fertilizers. Gundala recommends processing organic fertilizers so they don't depend on chemical fertilizers.
“The quality of organic fertilizer is also good. Blora itself has used a lot of organic fertilizers. For example, LPP NU has developed this,'' he explained.
According to him, the use of organic fertilizers has better results and benefits than chemical fertilizers.
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Including training of farmer groups to develop organic fertilizers.
"For example, Jepon District already has a composting house," he said.
Separately, Satya, an agent or trader of fertilizers and agricultural equipment, said that on average farmers use non-subsidized fertilizers.
The high cost of organic fertilizers and the lack of understanding of producing their own fertilizers is a problem in reducing dependence on subsidized fertilizers.
"Yesterday the price of organic fertilizer that was traded touched IDR 140,000. For organic or not, actually depends on the needs of farmers,''he said. (Endah/ IST )
