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Kalla appeals to grass roots, promises fertilizer subsidies

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 06/27/2009 9:58 PM | Presidential Election

Presidential hopeful Jusuf Kalla Saturday promised that if elected he would increase subsidies for fertilizers to make them more affordable for farmers, tempointeraktif.com reported Saturday.

“Companies must increase production and subsidies must be increased so that fertilizers are affordable,” Kalla told 500 fishermen and farmers during an election campaign rally in Manggar Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

Kalla said the current production of fertilizers did not accommodate the needs of farmers, causing high prices.

A shortage of gas supplies had hampered fertilizer production for firms such as PT Pupuk Kaltim, he added.

“If Pupuk Kaltim is short of gas, we will supply more to enable increased production,” Kalla said.
The fishermen also lamented the shortage of diesel fuel, which had prevented them from working and earning necessary income.

“These days, Pak Kalla, the price of diesel fuel increases, but the price of fish and shrimp falls,” Mujib, a fisherman, said.

Mujib asked for state oil company Pertamina to reopen gas stations for fishermen (SPBN).

In response, Kalla said, “that is the duty of a vice president, not a presidential candidate, so I will order Pertamina to reopen the SPBN’s”. (adh)
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