JAKARTA - The government is committed to supporting through policies and technology development to increase the added value of seaweed in North Maluku. Representatives of the Ministry of Finance requested that North Maluku Province develop an initiative to downstream the potential for seaweed which has a great opportunity to increase the production and downstream of seaweed.

"Indeed, for seaweed as one of the marine commodities that has the potential to be developed, both locally and globally. With large archipelagic areas and calm waters, this area has a geographical advantage to becoming a seaweed production center in Indonesia," said Head of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Finance of North Maluku Province, Tunas Agung Jiwa Brata in Ternate, Tuesday, January 28.

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), seaweed production in North Maluku continues to increase from 2019 to 2023. Currently, North Maluku is ranked 10th as the largest seaweed producer in Indonesia.

"Sea grass is one of the marine commodities that has the potential to be developed. The government through the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) plans to expand the seaweed downstream project to North Maluku," said Tunas as quoted by ANTARA.

Previously, the seaweed downstream pilot project had been successfully implemented in Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi. Based on KKP data, Indonesia produces an average of 9.5 million tons of seaweed per year during the 2019-2023 period.

Tunas added that the potential for seaweed in North Maluku is not only limited to raw production. Seaweed can be processed into various derivative products such as mixture materials for drugs, cosmetics, paints, fertilizers, and dental rental materials.

In addition, seaweed can also be processed into food products such as agar, seaweed combat (gimmari), seaweed chips (nori), and seaweed soup (miyekguk).

"The demand from the global market for seaweed continues to increase. Countries such as China, the European Union, America, Japan, and Russia are the main markets for Indonesia's exports," said Tunas.

"With this step, it is hoped that North Maluku will be able to compete in the global market and become one of the drivers of the marine-based regional economy," Tunas continued.


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