Balanced fertilization using the organic fertilizer Petroganik has been proven to optimize shallot harvests in Brebes Regency, Central Java, reaching up to 25.5 tons per hectare. This yield was achieved through the Farmer Field Day (FFD) for Shallots organized by Pupuk Indonesia in Brebes on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

Binti Zumriati, Senior Manager (SM) of Sales Support for Region 2 at PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero), encouraged farmers to maximize the redemption of subsidized Petroganik fertilizer to achieve abundant harvests. This effort supports improving farmers' welfare, achieving national food self-sufficiency, and building sustainable agriculture in Indonesia.

"The application of Petroganik in shallot cultivation is essential because it helps improve the physical fertility of the soil. Petroganik loosens soil texture, making it an ideal medium for shallot bulb growth. It also increases the soil’s C-Organic content, allowing for more optimal nutrient absorption," said Binti Zumriati.

In the balanced fertilization trial during the Brebes Shallot FFD, the fertilization per hectare used a combination of subsidized and non-subsidized fertilizers, including:

Petroganik: 2,000 kilograms

NPK Phonska Plus: 875 kilograms

Nitrea: 200 kilograms

Phosgreen: 500 kilograms

Nitrokal: 50 kilograms

Farmers also applied ZK at a dosage of 3 spoons per spray tank.

"This demonstration plot is the result of fertilization using products from Pupuk Indonesia—proudly made in Indonesia. Pupuk Indonesia is capable of supplying the products needed by our farmers," she emphasized.

This balanced fertilization approach successfully increased the productivity of Brebes shallots by 27.5%, boosting yields from the usual 20 tons per hectare to 25.5 tons of fresh bulbs.

"Alhamdulillah, the harvest results are very satisfying. The shallot bulbs are dense and have a stunning red color," Binti added.

She further explained that Petroganik is not only suitable for shallots but also supports high yields for all types of crops and various soil conditions. She ensured that recommended fertilization dosages can be tailored based on studies from the Agricultural Instrument Standardization Agency (BSIP), as outlined on the homepage of the e-RDKK application for 2025.

She added that the government has allocated 500,000 tons of Petroganik organic fertilizer nationally for 2025. Specifically in Brebes Regency, the allocation is 1,750 tons, of which only 616 tons (35%) had been utilized as of August 23, 2025. This means 1,134 tons are still available, including for shallot farmers.

To optimize the distribution of subsidized fertilizers in Brebes, Pupuk Indonesia has prepared stock exceeding the government's minimum requirement. As of August 25, 2025, Brebes held 6,203 tons of fertilizer stock, consisting of:

Petroganik: 70 tons

Urea: 3,493 tons

Phonska: 2,640 tons

"We hope that farmers will make the most of this stock by redeeming it, in support of realizing the national food self-sufficiency goal envisioned by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Prabowo Subianto," concluded Binti Zumriati.