INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - The performance of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries Susi Pujiastuti who has been shining in the management of marine fisheries, especially the theft of fish from foreign fishermen, is now tested with the chaotic problem of our salt. Unfortunately, nothing can be drowned in this salt affair.

Executive Director of the Center for Maritime Studies Abdul Halim said the poor performance in related institutions is not successful in promoting salt production and improving the welfare of salt farmers.

He reminded that the production of salt in 2016 is only 118.056 tons or equivalent to 3.7 percent of the 3.2 million tons targeted by the government in 2016. "To prevent similar things from recurring, the government must improve its performance in the salt field and prioritize the spirit of cooperation In order to achieve the target of self-sufficiency and the increasing prosperity of 3 million salt farmers in Indonesia, "said Abdul Halim in Jakarta (8/7/2017).

Vice Rector for Strategic Resources and Strategic Studies Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) Hermanto Siregar explained that for several years the national salt production capacity is not showing good performance. According to him it is an indication that the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) should be able to do guidance to salt farmers to lift the local salt production.

"From there aja actually already an indication, should be guided salt farmers by the ministry that is directly related that is the ministry of Mrs. Susi, because the derivatives are there," said Hermanto.

Previously Bhima Yudhistira, a young researcher of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance, said that the government actually has a Garut People Development Program (PUGAR) program to boost productivity of farmers to produce salt, but unfortunately this program has not yielded satisfactory results.

"But the realization of aid has never reached 100 percent, the target of salt production from PUGAR is only 51.4 percent of the target, so the program already exists but not seriously supervised by the government," Bhima said.

This scarcity of salt becomes an evaluation material for the government, especially the CTF in the future, to encourage salt farmers, to produce salt according to the target. Simple but enough to make this mist problem is not expected to happen again in the following years.