President Jokowi Inspects Fish Processing Unit, Seaweed Cultivation in Maluku Province

President Jokowi inspects fish-processing unit at PT Samudera Indo Sejahtera, Tual city, Wednesday (09/14). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Muchlis Jr)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and First Lady Ibu Iriana Jokowi Wednesday (09/14) inspected fish-processing unit at PT Samudera Indo Sejahtera, Tual city, Maluku province.

On that occasion, the President also engaged in a dialogue with local fishermen and seaweed growers regarding the prospects of seaweed cultivation in the area.

A representative of seaweed cultivators explained that the development of seaweed cultivation in Tual city is promising because of good cooperation between the Central, provincial, and municipality governments.

“We, the cultivators have harvested good quality seaweed due to the cooperation of the Central, provincial, and Tual city governments,” the representative said.

According to him, the cultivation project has a promising prospect since the cultivators can produce fourfold per season with an average yield of around 400 kilograms of seaweed.

“We can even produce 1 ton or less. The cultivation project is quite promising here, Sir,” he said.

The cultivators also expressed their gratitude for the price of seaweed which stands at Rp25,000 per kilogram in the market, higher than that of the previous year.

“Last year it was Rp15,000 or Rp16,000. For us [cultivators], it is enough,” the representative said.

“Now, the price stands at Rp25,000 or Rp35,000, which is good. We’re grateful that it is still at Rp25,000,” the President said. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/AIT) (RIF/MMB)