Coordinating Minister for Food Security urges PT Garam to boost salt production

Sampang, East Java (ANTARA) – The Coordinating Minister for Food Security, Zulkifli Hasan, has urged PT Garam to increase salt production as part of the government’s drive to realise a salt self-sufficiency programme.

“I came here to review the various facilities owned by PT Garam and, therefore, going forward, it is expected that the salt production managed by this company can rise to support the self-sufficiency programme that the government has envisaged,” he said during a working visit to PT Garam in Sampang, East Java, on Sunday.

The Minister explained that Madura Island is one of the main pillars of meeting the national salt supply, with production reaching 500 tons per year from the national salt demand of around 3 to 4 million tons per year.

Currently, he added, the salt production needs are not fully met, for several reasons. In addition to production still being low, there is also a lack of salt for specific purposes, such as industrial salt.

According to Zulhas, national salt production that can meet the needs of household consumption is only for edible salt, while production for salt used in industry has not yet reached that level.

“This condition has forced the government to resort to importing salt,” he said.

Therefore, he continued, the government continues to push all parties, including PT Garam, to increase production. One of the measures is by accelerating the construction of a factory.

The Coordinating Minister for Food Security Zulkifli Hasan and his entourage arrived in Sampang at around 14:30 WIB. He immediately inspected the salt processing plant and held discussions with representatives of salt farmers.