DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - The uptake of subsidized fertilizer in Namorambe District, Deli Serdang Regency, has yet to reach its full potential. The Deli Serdang Regency Government and PT Pupuk Indonesia found that some farmers had not yet collected their allocated fertilizer, despite sufficient stocks being available at distributors.
The finding emerged during monitoring and evaluation of subsidized fertilizer distribution conducted jointly by the Deli Serdang Regency Government and PT Pupuk Indonesia in Namorambe District on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The monitoring team also found that several distributors required additional supplies of NPK fertilizer to meet farmers' needs.
Deli Serdang Regency Special Adviser for Economic, Financial and Development Affairs Misran Sihaloho, together with PT Pupuk Indonesia, visited several distributors in the field. The locations inspected included UD Rasta Tani in Kuta Tengah Village, UD Armay in Namo Mbelin Village, and UD Tani Makmur in Gunung Kelawas Village.
Rasta Tani Uptake Reaches 70 Percent
At UD Rasta Tani, the annual allocation of subsidized fertilizer consists of 58 tons of urea and 64 tons of NPK fertilizer. By the time of the monitoring, 39 tons of urea and 40 tons of NPK fertilizer had been distributed. This means around 70 percent of the total allocation had been taken up.
Misran said the less-than-optimal uptake was partly due to some farmers not yet collecting their fertilizer, even though it was already available. The government subsequently instructed agricultural extension officers to conduct direct field checks to determine the obstacles preventing farmers from obtaining their fertilizer.
"Distribution is already running quite well, at around 70 percent. The issue is that some farmers have not yet collected their fertilizer. The data are currently being checked to determine how many farmers have not yet taken up their allocations," Misran said.
In addition to assessing distribution to date, the team also reviewed the need for NPK fertilizer at UD Rasta Tani. The additional requirement will be further coordinated between the distributor and PT Pupuk Indonesia so that fertilizer availability can be adjusted to the actual needs of farmers.
A similar situation was found at UD Armay in Namo Mbelin Village. The distributor received an annual allocation of 154 tons of urea and 176 tons of NPK fertilizer. By the time of the monitoring, 108 tons of urea and 111 tons of NPK fertilizer had been distributed.
SUBSIDIZED FERTILIZER UPTAKE ALREADY RELATIVELY GOOD: Misran Sihaloho, Deli Serdang Regency Special Adviser for Economic, Financial and Development Affairs, said subsidized fertilizer uptake at several distributors was already relatively good, although some farmers had yet to claim their allocations. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
UD Armay Requires Additional NPK Fertilizer
In general, fertilizer distribution at UD Armay proceeded without significant problems. However, the need for additional NPK fertilizer was a key focus of the monitoring. The Deli Serdang Regency Government asked the Gapoktan associated with UD Armay to coordinate with PT Pupuk Indonesia to ensure the availability of NPK fertilizer for farmers.
"No problems were found at UD Armay. However, an additional allocation of NPK fertilizer is required. This should be coordinated by the UD Armay Gapoktan together with PT Pupuk Indonesia to ensure its availability," Misran said.
According to Misran, this coordination is important to ensure that the need for NPK fertilizer does not disrupt agricultural activities. At the same time, the government needs a more accurate picture of farmers' actual requirements so that subsidized fertilizer distribution can be adjusted to conditions in the field.
Meanwhile, monitoring at UD Tani Makmur in Gunung Kelawas Village showed that fertilizer availability was generally good. A large portion of the allocation assigned to the distributor had already been taken up. However, the team continued to find that some farmers had not yet claimed their allocations.
"We will later visit the farmers directly through the agricultural extension team to find out where the difficulties lie," Misran said.
The Deli Serdang Regency Government will subsequently instruct agricultural extension officers to visit farmers who have not yet collected their fertilizer. The move is intended to establish the actual conditions in the field while identifying the factors behind the incomplete uptake of available fertilizer.
CROSS-CHECKING SUBSIDIZED FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTION DATA: Ahmad Dalfin, Account Executive for North Sumatra Region I at PT Pupuk Indonesia, said the monitoring was important to compare fertilizer uptake data with actual conditions in the field. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Monitoring Aligns Data with Field Conditions
Misran emphasized that direct verification was necessary to give the government a clearer picture of farmers' conditions. The data collected will serve as a basis for further evaluation and coordination of subsidized fertilizer distribution and help ensure that farmers' needs are properly taken into account.
In addition to distribution volumes, the monitoring team also checked fertilizer prices at distributor level. The inspection found that prices at UD Rasta Tani and UD Armay were in line with the applicable Highest Retail Prices (HET). Urea was sold at Rp90,000 per sack, while NPK fertilizer was priced at Rp92,000 per sack.
Ahmad Dalfin, Account Executive for North Sumatra Region I at PT Pupuk Indonesia, said the joint monitoring with the Deli Serdang Regency Government helped match distribution data with actual conditions in the field.
"This monitoring is a good step toward ensuring fertilizer availability at the UD and Gapoktan levels. We are also collecting data on fertilizer distribution and use over a one-year period so that there are no problems when the data are entered into the e-Verval application and the records match actual conditions in the field," Ahmad said.
According to Ahmad, direct data collection is an important part of ensuring that fertilizer uptake records correspond with current conditions. The data also support entries into the e-Verval application, allowing records of fertilizer distribution and use to accurately reflect conditions in the field.
The monitoring results in Namorambe District will subsequently be followed up by checking on farmers who have not yet collected their fertilizer. The Deli Serdang Regency Government and PT Pupuk Indonesia will also coordinate the additional NPK fertilizer requirements of distributors in need of additional supplies.
These measures are expected to help align fertilizer availability more closely with farmers' actual needs. The government hopes that further evaluation and coordination will facilitate the distribution of subsidized fertilizer while ensuring that allocated supplies reach farmers according to their requirements. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala