Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto encouraged farmers to increase the quality of salt produced so that they could meet the needs of salt for the industry. "This industry requires quality. So the key is quality. Next year, we will increase it again," Airlangga said in Jakarta Tuesday.
Improving the quality of national salt must start from the upstream process of salt production by farmers, for example by maintaining consistency of salt production period to obtain optimal results, with sodium chloride (NaCl) content for salt consumption of 94 percent and 97 percent for industrial salt, Airlangga explained.
High levels of NaCl must also be accompanied by low metal contamination and impurity.
"In addition, the government will gradually improve the quality of salt, including for land availability," the minister said.
The use of technology was needed to improve the ability of local salt to be absorbed by the industry, Airlangga revealed.
"One of them is implementing the geomembrane technique. In addition, there should be an expansion of the saline area," Airlangga Hartarto said.
In relation to becoming self-sufficient in salt production by 2021, Airlangga Hartarto asked the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to continue to train and educate salt farmers.
The Ministry of Industry will also facilitate the meeting of salt farmers with salt users for industries.
Related news: RI govt to develop salt-making industry
Related news: Karawang's salt farmers suffer losses from Pertamina's oil spill
Related news: Government to provide subsidized credits to salt farmers
