Food Coordinating Minister Ensures Smooth Fertiliser Distribution and Stable Paddy Prices
Bengkulu (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, has ensured that fertiliser distribution is running smoothly and safely, while farmers’ paddy prices remain stable in accordance with government regulations.
“I have been instructed by President Prabowo to tour the regions for three days. First, to ensure fertiliser is distributed smoothly. Second, paddy prices must not fall below Rp6,500, and third, village cooperatives must be built quickly so that we can inaugurate them in July 2026 and the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme can run well,” said Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan in Bengkulu on Friday.
Zulkifli stated that visits to various regions are conducted to ensure that all presidential instructions are implemented well on the ground and felt directly by the community, especially farmers.
“To ensure that, I am touring Indonesia. Alhamdulillah, we heard it ourselves earlier; the average paddy price here is Rp6,500 per kilogram. Fertiliser is always available, never delayed, and the price is still discounted by 20 per cent, so it’s safe, alhamdulillah,” he said.
He mentioned that based on the Rembuk Tani dialogue held in Bengkulu Province with farmers, the main issue still faced is suboptimal irrigation in several areas.
According to him, irrigation improvements are a priority programme of the government in supporting the increase in national agricultural production.
“Well, indeed, the paddy fields earlier, the farmers’ first complaint is irrigation; that is indeed a priority programme. If there is damaged irrigation, immediately propose it to the Ministry of Public Works (PU) and copy to the Food Coordinating Ministry; insya Allah, we will fix it, because irrigation is a primary priority programme,” he said.
He highlighted the issue of paddy field conversion, which he deemed should no longer occur, as it threatens national food security.
“Well, the second issue is the complaint about paddy fields being converted; that must not happen anymore; paddy fields must not be converted to anything. For those that have already been converted since 2010, if the irrigation is good, it must be replaced with three times the area; if the water is brackish, replaced with two times; if rain-fed, replaced with one time the paddy field area,” he said.
He hopes that these various steps can maintain agricultural productivity and ensure that farmers’ welfare remains stable amid economic dynamics.