HOUSE CONCERNED OVER LACK OF SUBSIDIZED FERTILIZERS

Jakarta, Dec 19 (ANTARA) - Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), Agung Laksono, expressed his grave concern over the fate of farmers who often complained about the lack of subsidized fertilizer during the planting season.
When closing the session period of the House here on Friday, Agung said the House kept on expressing concern over a lack and distribution of subsidized fertilizers to the farmers.
This issue had been followed up by the House members in their working visit.
In a working and consultative meeting with the House speaker and other faction leaders, it was decided that the current lack of subsidized fertilizers now should be solved by taking emergency and swift steps because of the importance of fertilizers in agricultural production.
Fertilizers also played a crucial role in achieving self-sufficiency in food. But the House was very concerned over the fact that in every planting season the farmers were often confronted by the lack of subsidized fertilizers.
"If non subsidized fertilizers are available on the market, the price will be very high. With regard to supply , there is no problem considering that the government considered the need of the farmers," he said.
The House thought that subsidized fertilizers had been made by businesses as a commodity in order to gain greater profit. This condition is very saddening since Indonesia is an agrarian country. "Of its 220 million people, 40 percent are farmers," he said.
The House has also asked the government to launch a market operation and take swift steps to overcome a lack of subsidized fertilizers.
The House's Commission IV dealing with agriculture, marine, plantation and forestry affairs will review profoundly together with the government in finding a new mechanism which may shorten the chain of fertilizer distribution to enable the farmers to easily get it in addition to strengthening the role of the commission for fertilizer and pesticide control (KP3).
The meeting of the House working body (Bamus) had issued a decision on the importance of forming a supervisory team to be manned by members of the Commissions IV and VI to be direcly led by a deputy speaker of the House. This team is tasked with monitoring and supervising the distribution of subsidized fertilizers in the regions.