KKP Aims For 1,000 Hectares Of Land In NTT To Become A National Salt Center Area

Illustration (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The government is targeting salt self-sufficiency in 2027.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is targeting Rote Ndao Regency in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province to become one of the potential areas as a national salt center.

The Director General of Marine Management of the KKP Koswara said that currently most of the salt needs for the food and pharmaceutical industries are still met from imports.

This is because Indonesia has not been able to produce salt according to industrial needs.

"Currently, more than half of the salt needs for the various food and pharmaceutical sectors still have to be met from imports. This happens because the quality of local production salt has not been fully able to meet strict industrial standards," Koswara said as quoted from his written statement, Wednesday, May 21.

He said that his party had also mapped potential land in East Rote and East Coast sub-districts with an estimated total land of more than 1,000 hectares.

The construction of a salt center in Rote Ndao is planned to support industrial needs.

According to Koswara, the Rote Ndao area was chosen because it has great potential with low rainfall and high level of salinity.

This identification is an initial stage to ensure technical and ecological feasibility such as water sources and social aspects in the development of sustainable salt land.

"We also have support from the Regional Government, the Regent has conveyed his commitment. Hopefully this can be carried out in 2025," he said.

Meanwhile, Rote Regent Ndao Paulus Henuk is optimistic that the construction of an industrial salt center in Rote Ndao will create new jobs and increase regional income.

"I represent the people of Rote Ndao, thank you for the presence of the central government through the KKP. This provides fresh air for the community," he said.