"Traditional salt-making process can only produce 130 tons of salt per hectare, while 390 tons of salt per hectare could be produced by making use of a technology," the minister said, after inaugurating the Science and Technology Center for Salt (PUI) in Pedelegan Village, Pamekasan, Madura, East Java Province, on Monday.
He stated that the minister would ask the government to provide technology for salt farmers to increase salt production.
Nasir explained that the national total demand of salt per year is about 4.4 million tons, while the national salt production is only 1.6 tons.
"The 1.6 tons is produced when the weather is good, while on average, only 1.2 tons could be produced," he noted.
In order to meet the salt consumption, the government has to import salt. "But importing salt will create loss for local salt farmers," he explained, adding that a technology to speed up the evaporation process to get brine containing highly soluble impurities of minerals is needed.
According to Nasir, the crystallization of brine usually takes 10 days, while it only takes three to four days using a technology.
"The government needs to allocate budget to help our salt farmers develop this technology," he added.
The minister noted that some salt production centers in Indonesia are located in Java, Madura Island, as well South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara Provinces.
"The science and technology center for salt production in Pamekasan has been developed in collaboration with higher education institutions in Madura," he explained.
(KR-LWA/INE)
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/A014)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
