Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) encouraged rice farmers to use local organic fertilizers to reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and reduce costs.
"Today, we will start planting again. After the harvest season, we must immediately plant again because we still have water reserves. The Indonesian Farmers Union must immediately start using organic fertilizers in the area," he said.
President Jokowi made the statement during his activity in Tuban, East Java, as quoted from a press statement received here Thursday.
The head of state noted that in the past three years, farmers in Tuban had been using local organic fertilizer in one thousand hectares of land and were able to reduce the production costs.
"Everything is organic, and the cost of fertilizer, which is usually around Rp5 to Rp6 million per hectare, can be reduced to Rp100 thousand to Rp 500 thousand per hectare," he remarked.
According to President Jokowi, if other regions could emulate this method, then they will be able to reduce farming costs and dependency on chemical fertilizers.
"This method will reduce the costs that must be incurred by farmers and cut their dependency on chemical fertilizer and imports of raw materials for chemical fertilizer," he stated.
Jokowi also lauded efforts made by the Indonesian Farmers Union with the utilization of local organic fertilizers in the wake of difficulties encountered worldwide in obtaining fertilizers.
"I think it is a very good effort with an increasing result. This is very good," he remarked.
He also instructed the agriculture minister to develop the use of organic fertilizers in other provinces.
However, each farmer should have at least two cows to produce his own organic fertilizer from cow dung.
"It will be the responsibility of the Agriculture Ministry to provide it to make organic fertilizer for farmers. However, I am thankful that the price of grain to farmers compared to last year is already much better. Farmers should be happy," he stated.
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Editor : Mahdani
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