Improving Indonesia's fertiliser subsidy programme - poorly targeted and that hampers its effectiveness

Farmers collect paddy during harvest day at a rice field in Candipuro district, Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia. - Photo from Reuters

DESPITE its crucial role in maintaining and boosting agricultural land productivity, Indonesia’s fertiliser subsidy programme is poorly targeted, which hampers its effectiveness.

This could be addressed through better targeting data by integrating the results of the 2023 Agriculture Census (CA 2023) and the Socioeconomic Registry (Regsosek) as a basis for planning and executing the programme. Indonesia is facing a challenge in boosting the productivity of its agricultural land to feed a population of almost 300 million, which will continue to grow.