"Salt imports that had taken place so far should be stopped, especially since the government is targeting to achieve 3.2 million tons of salt production in the country in 2017 and to improve the welfare of salt farmers with the support of state funds amounting to Rp9.2 trillion as stated in the 2017 State Budget (APBN 2017)," Executive Director of the Center for Maritime Studies for Humanity Abdul Halim stated here on Saturday.
According to Halim, poor salt production stemmed from the performance of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Trade, and state-owned salt firm PT Garam, which had failed to encourage the production of the commodity and improve the welfare of salt farmers.
He reminded that the production of salt in 2016 was only 118.056 tons, or equivalent to 3.7 percent of the 3.2 million tons targeted by the government in that year.
"In order to prevent this from recurring, the government must improve its performance in terms of salt production and prioritize the spirit of mutual work or cooperation to achieve the target of self-sufficiency and increase the prosperity of three million salt farmers in Indonesia," he explained.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
