Sumberoto Village, Donomulyo District, Malang Regency made history with the first harvest of salt resulted from technological innovation, through assistance from the Center for Coastal and Marine Studies, Universitas Brawijaya (PSPK UB). This harvest is the result of the hard work of Sumberoto Makmur Sejahtera Salt Business Group (KUGAR), which manages a salt production system based on modern technology.
The harvested salt is produced from the Greenhouse Salt Tunnel system with the Continuously Dynamic Mixing (CDM) method, a technology that has been applied in various regions in Indonesia. Sumberoto is the second location in Malang and on the South Coast (Pansela) of East Java to successfully produce salt with this technology, after previous successes in other areas.
There are 30 tunnel units used in production with details of 20 units from the Malang Regency APBD through the Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP) and 10 units from the APBN through the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. In this first harvest, 700 kilograms (7 quintals) of quality salt were successfully produced.
The Regent of Malang, HM. Sanusi, who was present at the harvest on Tuesday (15/4) stated his commitment to develop salt potential in the South Malang area.
“We are targeting production of up to 60 tons per year with K1 salt quality. This is not just about volume, but quality that can compete nationally,” said Sanusi.
The Head of PSPK UB, Dr. Fuad, S.Pi., M.T. emphasized the importance of maintaining quality through a direct production approach in the ponds.
“We must answer that target with the K1 on farm strategy, ensuring that premium quality is achieved from upstream. This also emphasizes the superiority of the technology we are developing,” explained Fuad.
PSPK UB also developed a large framework for East Java salt development based on zoning.
“We divide the East Java region into three salt production zones. Madura as the Production and Processing Optimization Zone, Pantura East Java as the Revitalization and Modernization Zone for Ponds, and Pansela East Java as the New Production Innovative Creation Zone,” explained Fuad.
According to him, the South Coast (Pansela) area including Sumberoto, was developed as an innovative zone, with the integration of educational tourism potential based on salt production technology, which is expected to become a new model for coastal economic development.
The Head of Malang Regency DKP, Viktor Sembiring, also expressed his support for the sustainability of this program.
“Basically, the good relationship between UB and the Malang Regency DKP is like a match made in heaven. This technology opens our eyes that the potential for salt does not only belong to Madura or Pantura, but can grow strongly from South Malang, as proven by this being the 2nd area that we have successfully produced. We have prepared the next 2 points to emphasize Malang’s position in the world of salt production, at least in East Java,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of KUGAR Sumberoto Makmur Sejahtera, Edi Santoso, expressed his pride in this achievement.
“We who are just learning to be farmers never imagined that we could harvest clean salt in 7-10 days. Now we see the results ourselves. This really brings new hope and becomes a new additional income,” he said.
With the support of technology, partnerships, and local enthusiasm, this first harvest is the first step towards innovation-based salt independence in the southern region of East Java. [aziz/pon/UB PR/ Trans. Iir]
