Faisal Basri: Just Like Lobsters, Salt Is A Commodity That Politicians Use To Make Money

Indef's senior economist, Faisal Basri. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Senior economist Indef Faisal Basri assessed that accurate data is crucial to solve the national salt problem, which is still struggling with high imports amid the low absorption of salt produced by the people.

"The problem is data. Because when production goes up, imports also go up. If production goes down, imports also go down. This is a hassle to explain, that's why we need data. The problem becomes relatively easy if the data is accurate so that data estimates will be accurate and import estimates will also be better. , "said Faisal Basri in a webinar entitled" Can Indonesia Be Self Sufficient in Salt? ", quoted from Antara, Friday, December 4.

According to Faisal Basri, the problem that often occurs is that the import quota is not in accordance with the needs, so that there is seepage into household consumption. The unsynchronized production data and import quotas, according to him, also occur because of political interests.

He gave an example that the salt import quota in 2018 reached 3.8 million tons. The abundant imports even exceed industrial needs. On the other hand, this policy also prevents the local farmers' salt from being absorbed.

"Salt is a commodity for rent-sharing. Even though the price is cheap, the volume is millions of tons. The same as the export quota for lobster seeds, it occurs in sugar and others. Many politicians enter the business to finance politics, the victims are farmers or salt farmers. very simple, "said Faisal Basri.

On the same occasion, Professor of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia (UI) Misri Gozan admitted that accurate salt data is crucial for salt policy. He also noted that Indonesia has only held a salt census once. Even though he was involved, he admitted that he could not access the results of the census.

"We are involved in the census but the data we cannot see the end result is data on land, production, data on farmers," he said.

According to Misri, the important data issue apart from determining import policies is also related to providing targeted assistance. He said that the government has poured out a lot of funds for farmer groups, but those who entered the list were ordinary housewives.

"Those in the field who really work on the salt fields, they are not included in the list of government-owned ponds," he said.

Quoting the salt balance data processed by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, it is noted that the national need for salt is 4.5 million tons in 2019, while domestic production is only 2.85 million tons, so Indonesia imports 2.69 million tons of salt.

Meanwhile in 2020, with a requirement of 4.46 million tons and production of only 1.5 million tons, this year's salt imports will be pegged at 2.9 million tons. The national supply comes from 545 thousand tons of salt produced (until September 2020) and the remaining stock of around 775 thousand tons.