REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA \u2013 The National Association of Food Crop\nFarmers (P3NA) says that the rupiah\u2019s weakening against the United\nStates dollar is starting to trigger a rise in non-subsidised fertiliser\nprices. This situation makes agricultural production costs heavier as\nfertiliser needs grow to maintain the productivity of food crops.<\/p>\n
General Chairman of P3NA, Jumantoro, said that the limitation of\nsubsidised fertiliser quotas keeps farmers reliant on non-subsidised\nfertilisers. Consequently, farmers are affected when fertiliser prices\nrise as imported raw materials become more expensive due to the rupiah\u2019s\ndepreciation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, the price difference between subsidised and non-subsidised\nfertilisers is many times multiplied. It is this price gap that burdens\nfarmers,\u201d Jumantoro said in a written statement on Monday (18 May\n2026).<\/p>\n
He explained that the needs for urea and phonska fertilisers for food\ncrops average 400-600 kilograms per hectare. By contrast, subsidised\nfertiliser allocations are only around 200-300 kilograms per hectare, so\nthe shortfall must be met with non-subsidised fertilisers.<\/p>\n
Subsidised fertiliser prices remain at around Rp 1,800 per kilogram\nfor urea and Rp 1,840 per kilogram for phonska. However, non-subsidised\nfertilisers have surged sharply. The price of Nitrea, a brand of\nnon-subsidised urea fertiliser, reached Rp 950,000 per 50-kilogram bag\nor more than 10 times the price of subsidised fertilisers.<\/p>\n
\u201cNon-subsidised fertiliser prices could rise again if the rupiah\ncontinues to weaken against the US dollar, because some fertiliser\ninputs still come from imports,\u201d Jumantoro said.<\/p>\n
The price of non-subsidised phonska also reached Rp 625,000 per bag\nof 50 kilograms, about seven times more expensive than subsidised\nfertiliser. In several regions, non-subsidised urea prices have even\nbreached Rp 1.2 million per 50-kilogram bag. Phonska prices are around\nRp 800,000 to Rp 1 million per 50-kilogram bag.<\/p>\n
The rupiah exchange rate on Monday (18 May 2026) was recorded at Rp\n17,673 per US dollar. The currency weakness has begun to affect the\nprices of agricultural inputs, especially fertilisers that still use\nimported raw materials.<\/p>\n
Jumantoro said farmers\u2019 needs are not only limited to urea and\nphonska fertilisers. Farmers also require organic fertilisers, ZA or\nammonium sulphate, and pesticides to maintain crop productivity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe high price of non-subsidised fertilisers is very burdensome on\nagricultural production costs because labour costs, land rent, fuel, and\nseed costs are also rising,\u201d said a farmer from Jember Regency, East\nJava.<\/p>\n
He said that if there is excess national fertiliser production, the\ngovernment should prioritise additional subsidised allocations for\ndomestic needs. This step is seen as capable of reducing the impact of\nrupiah weakness on production costs for farming.<\/p>\n
Suharno, Head of the Kontak Tani Nelayan Andalan (KTNA) for Madiun\nRegency, said that most farmers still require non-subsidised fertilisers\nto improve rice crop productivity. However, fertiliser price increases\nare limiting farmers\u2019 ability to purchase fertilisers.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost farmers still need non-subsidised fertilisers to improve rice\nproductivity,\u201d Suharno said.<\/p>\n
He believes that keeping fertiliser prices affordable will help\nsafeguard food production amid rising production costs. Farmers also\nhope fertiliser purchases will not be restricted so that planting season\nneeds can be met.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rupiah-weakness-triggers-surge-in-non-subsidised-fertiliser-prices-1779546394", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }