Thousands of Farmers Crowd Fertilizer Distributors
Monday, 17 April, 2006 | 16:27 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jember: About 300 farmers from many subdistricts in Jember, East Java turned up at the fertilizer distributor kiosks yesterday afternoon. They were trying to find fertilizer in Rambipuji and Bangsalsari, Jember District. Two of the distributors were Rajawali Limited Partnership and Sumber Telaga Rambipuji Limited Partnership.

According to farmer Mudasir, the rice that had been planted is risky of not producing because it had not had any fertilizer. “We are threatened not to have a harvest,” he said. The same was said of Kusmandani, from Bangsalsari subdistrict queuing at a fertilizer kiosk. “They say the government guarantees the fertilizer supply, but the fact is we are still in trouble,” she said in an irritated tone.

Meanwhile, tens of farmers who were disappointed because they did not acquire fertilizer, spontaneously came to Rambipuji fertilizer storage in Stasiun Rambipuji Street. They queued for hours for a 50 kilogram sack of fertilizer. “The buyer must show his identity card,” said Hafilah, a resident of Panti Village when met in Sumber Telaga kiosk.

Before, the Marketing Head of Pukuk Kalimantan Timur, Ltd, Irwansyah, said he guarantees the fertilizer supply in East and Central Java. Since April 7, the amount of fertilizer in the two provinces are sufficient to meet the farmers' demand for the next one and a half months.

Mahbub Djunaidy