JAKARTA, The Kabar News—Indonesia’s subsidized fertilizer program had reached 10.6 million farmers and aquaculture producers by Oct. 6, 2026, as the government used state funding to reduce production costs and support national food supplies.

The Finance Ministry reported the government had distributed 6.83 million tonnes of subsidized fertilizer nationwide as of Oct. 20. Budget realization reached Rp38.18 trillion (US$2.27 billion), equivalent to 81.45 percent of the Rp46.87 trillion allocated for the program in 2026.

The figures represent year-to-date progress rather than final results for the entire year. The number of registered recipients also differs from the number who had redeemed fertilizer by the reporting date.

“For 2026, the subsidized fertilizer budget ceiling is set at Rp46.87 trillion,” Agriculture Ministry Fertilizer Director Jekvy Hendra said when announcing the program’s readiness in December 2025.

The government set the 2026 allocation at 9.55 million tonnes for agriculture and approximately 295,676 tonnes for aquaculture, according to an Agriculture Ministry statement. The allocation marked the return of subsidized fertilizer access for eligible fish farmers following changes to the national distribution system.

Agricultural recipients must cultivate no more than two hectares and belong to a registered farmers’ group. The scheme covers 10 priority commodities: rice, corn, soybeans, cassava, chili, shallots, garlic, coffee, cocoa and smallholder sugarcane.

Eligible farmers must appear in the electronic Definitive Plan for Group Needs (e-RDKK). The Agriculture Ministry operates an online portal that allows applicants to check their 2026 beneficiary status.

The government currently sets the maximum retail price at Rp1,800 per kilogram for subsidized urea and Rp1,840 for standard NPK fertilizer. It also subsidizes organic fertilizer and special formulations for selected commodities, according to the Agriculture Ministry’s fertilizer guidance.

Aquaculture producers face separate eligibility rules under Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministerial Regulation No. 22/2025. They must use simple production technology and join a registered fish-farming group.

For freshwater aquaculture, eligible operations may use up to 0.75 hectares for hatcheries or two hectares for grow-out activities. Brackish-water hatcheries may cover no more than 0.5 hectares, while grow-out farms remain limited to two hectares. The regulation also requires producers to register in the fisheries data system and the electronic fertilizer distribution plan.

The scheme is meant to assist producers in obtaining inputs at controlled prices. Fertilizer subsidies alone are not a panacea for more output or stable food prices. The results also depend on the timeliness of availability, the correct application and the effective action against sales above the official price.

Accurate beneficiary records and transparent distribution data will therefore remain crucial. These controls can help ensure that the remaining allocation for 2026 reaches eligible farmers and aquaculture producers, rather than leaking into commercial markets.

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