REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SUMENEP – The halt of salt import will be conducted in 2013 because the local production is increasing through business development of public salt (PUGAR). The Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sharif Cicip Sutardjo, said, the ministry intensified the production of local salt through PUGAR in 40 cities in Indonesia to reach the target. The production in 2012 is projected to 1.3 million tonnes of salt.

Government pours 107.6 billion IDR of assistance to repair the 16.500 hectare area and direct aid to 29.000 salt farmers in Indonesia.

“If we can reach our production target, the salt is expected to be the staple of consumption in 2013. Then we do not have to import salt,” he said in his visit on Restoring Madura as Salt Island in Karanganyar, Sumenep, East Java.

Sutardjo explained the Indonesian needs of salt reached 1.5 million tonnes per year. PUGAR program has successfully increased the production. The salt production in 2010 was only 30.000 tonnes. After PUGAR, the production in 2011 is 880.000 tonnes. “We are optimistic that the production is increasing year by year. In 2013, the production can balance the needs,” he said.

The Director-General for Seas, Coasts, and Small Islands, Sudirman Saad, said, another program to increase the production is by intervening the salt company to buy the remaining stocks of local salt in 2011, which is 234.000 tonnes. “It should be facilitated so that other companies can also absorb the remaining stocks,” he said. 

The program is initially done in Madura. Budiono Madura Bangun Persada Company has agreed to buy 30.000 tonnes of remaining stocks. The Ministry also assigns 8.000 instructors to train the salt farmers. 

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