Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman plans to increase fertilizer procurement to 9.55 million tons this year, up from the previous 4.7 million tons. "After visiting approximately 15 provinces across Indonesia and seeing the situation firsthand, it's clear that farmers are primarily concerned about the shortage of fertilizers," said the Minister on Wednesday (28/2/2024). He mentioned that farmers' concerns were raised with President Jokowi during a limited meeting on Monday (26/2/2024). "Thankfully, the President promptly responded to meet the nationwide demand for more fertilizers," he said. Additionally, he pledged to address fertilizer shortages in remote and mountainous regions, where farmers struggle to access fertilizers due to financial constraints associated with the Farmer Card. He proposed revoking the Ministerial Regulation to allow farmers to use their ID cards for fertilizer purchases. "We will make adjustments based on farmers' preferences," he assured. Minister Amran stressed that utilizing ID cards for fertilizer distribution can ensure equitable access for all Indonesian farmers, especially with increased fertilizer procurement. (ar/ndt/hn/nm)