"The step to stop salt imports is a correct policy considering the fact that Indonesia has the fourth longest beach in the world stretching about 95 thousands kilometers," Kiara Program Coordinator Abdul Halim said here on Friday.
He said that the government through the ministry of maritime and fisheries affairs (KKP) should campaign increased salt production at salt production centers in Indonesia such as in Madura ( East Java) and Kupang (East Nusa Tenggara).
Halim expressed hope that the government`s latest policy in stopping the importation of salt would help improve the welfare of the Indonesian salt farmers.
He said that there was still salt production at home which was not sold based on the price sanctioned by the KKP and the trade ministry.
Earlier, the coordination meeting on national food resilience led by Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa decided to stop the importation of consumption salt.
"Thanks God, we have decided to stop importing consumption salt," Maritime and Fisheries Affairs Minister Fadel Muhammad said after attending a coordination meeting on food affairs at the office of the coordinating minister for economic affairs here on Wednesday.
The government made the decision as part of the efforts to solve problems among related ministries regarding the importation of consumption salt. However, salt for industry will remain to be imported.
In the meantime, Coordinating Minster for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said the government was determined to increase production and become self-reliant in salt production. The government will assist the ministry of maritime and fisheries affairs in increasing the country`s salt production.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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