PARADOX MARINE STATE: EVALUATION OF PEOPLE SALT EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM IN INDONESIA

Abstract

Indonesia has 17,480 islands with a coastline of 95 181 km2, placing it as a country with a long line of world's longest beach. But ironically, the national salt production has not been able to meet people's need, and most of salt needs are imported from other countries, including Singapore whose coastline is much shorter. To improve productivity and quality of national salt and salt farmers’ prosperity, the State has issued People Salt Empowerment (PUGAR) Program in 2010. This study aims to determine whether the People Salt Empowerment Program of the 2011-2014 period have reached goals and the desired impact or not. The study was conducted using a quantitative approach. Data collected through literature research of documents, report issued by the government, and online publications. Data were analyzed using meta-analysis methods. The results showed that PUGAR 2011-2014 period program has not reached the goals and the desired impact. Implementation of People Salt Empowerment (PUGAR) Program still encounter problems because of the poor use of innovation and technology in the management and production, and the lack of capacity of human resources from both government and the people of the salt farmers management and implementation of activities. Therefore, the government should: (1) improve the management of the salt business of the people, (2) review the system of community grants (BLM), (3) to assess and monitor the Term of Trade of Salt Farmers periodically and increase the salt production capability, (4) further research on the issue is need..