PT Petrokimia Asks Distributors To Ensure Fertilizer Supply

Padang, West Sumatra, May 21 (Antara) - State fertilizer company, PT Petrokimia Gresik has asked the distributors and retailers in West Sumatra to ensure availability of fertilizer for local farmers. "Although fertilizer distribution to West Sumatra runs well enough, the distributors and retailers should be able to ensure its availability at any time for the local farmers," Warjono, sale supervisor of PT Petrokimia Gresik for West Sumatra, said here on Tuesday. But he added that the delay of subsidized fertilizer distribution to various areas in Indonesia was due to the indiscipline of distributors and retailers to complete the administrative requirements. "The fertilizer distributors have to be responsible for their indiscipline acts," Warjono said, adding that the farmers have the right to acquire the subsidized fertilizer. He noted that the distributors and retailers who violated the regulation would face punishment, because the fertilizer distribution was a public issue. Warjono pointed out that the highest retailer price of Phonska fertilizer was Rp2,300 per kg, while the subsidy from the government was Rp2,900 per kg. "Therefore the higher the subsidy from the government, the tighter the PT Petrokimia Gresik will control it," he said. Meanwhile, CV Usaha Tani fertilizer distributor Nofi Candra said transparent administration from the retailers was needed to make the distribution of subsidized fertilizer run smoothly. "Without an orderly administration, the distributors will find it difficult to demand the subsidy from the government," Nofi said.