People waiting Kotabaru to produce salt

Kotabaru, South Kalimantan (AntaranewsKalsel) - Some people in Kotabaru district, South Kalimantan, are waiting for the realization of a plan that the local fishermen facilitated by the local government to produce salt.

"In the past, the Marine and Fisheries Agency discoursed that Kotabaru will produce its own salt to meet the needs of salted fish production," said Abu Bakar, on of a resident in Kotabaru on Thursday.

The discourse is quite realistic if realized, when the current salt price soars and cause salty fish craftsman worried because of high salt prices.

A salted fish craftsman in Rampa Lama Village, North Pulaulaut Subdistrict, Junaidi, acknowledged to being disturbed of the soaring salt price from Rp45,000 per sack of 50 kg to Rp95,000 and jumped again to Rp200,000 per sack.

If in the next week the price of salt continues to skyrocket, Junaidi will likely stop the production of salted fish. He also strongly hopes there is government intervention to immediately stabilize the price and salt stock. In addition to the expensive price, salt is also rare in the market.

Previously, H Talib, when he was the head of the Kotabaru Marine and Fisheries Agency, said local government expected the fishermen can produce their own salt so as not to always depend on the supply from other regions.

"Because until this time salt demand in Kotabaru always bought from Madura and Java," he explained.

While Kotabaru has an area of ??marine waters and aquaculture location is quite wide. But there are still some obstacles will be faced to produce salt. Among other things, salinity in Kotabaru still below the standard than in Madura or Java.

Salinity in Kotabaru ranges from 32 to 24 ppt, while the salinity standard required to produce salt ranges from 36 to 38 ppt.

Talib said that his side immediately conducted laboratory tests again and conducted comparative studies to some salt-producing areas with local fishermen.