PGN and BRIN boost coastal land economy through Minapadi Salin programme

PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk (PGN) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) are developing the Minapadi Salin programme in the Sicepit coastal area of Batang Regency, Central Java, to boost the economic value of the region’s coastal land. PGN Corporate Secretary Fajriyah Usman stated that the collaboration with BRIN and the Batang Regency government is an effort to strengthen food security while improving the welfare of coastal communities through productive and sustainable land use. The programme integrates biosaline rice cultivation on salinity-affected land with saline tilapia farming and seaweed cultivation, offering alternative commodities with economic value. “The Minapadi Salin programme is a tangible commitment, integrating agricultural and fishery innovations, including seaweed commodity development, to improve farmers’ welfare while strengthening national food security,” Fajriyah said. The programme was previously implemented in the northern coastal area of Semarang, specifically in Mangunharjo, and in Jepara Regency with biosaline rice. The Batang initiative represents a more integrated approach. In Semarang, the programme expanded from an initial 20 hectares to over 115 hectares, while in Jepara, the harvest realisation reached 22 hectares from a 20-hectare target, generating economic value of IDR 1.23 billion. The overall economic value generated by the biosaline rice programme has reached IDR 7.66 billion. In Batang, the Minapadi Salin programme covers 32.26 hectares managed by the Sido Barokah Mulyo Farmers’ Group Association, the Intani Farmers’ Group, and the Dewi Sri VI Farmers’ Group. The seaweed commodity cultivated is Gracilaria verrucosa, which has high economic value and adapts well to saline coastal waters. The initial phase involved seeding approximately 30 kilograms of seaweed. BRIN Deputy for Regional Research and Innovation Yopi noted that the Minapadi Salin programme demonstrates how research results can be practically implemented to address challenges in the field, particularly on coastal land with high salinity levels. “This approach not only restores land productivity but also increases the economic value of the area,” he said. Supported by BRIN’s research-based agricultural technology, the programme targets rice productivity of 6-7 tonnes per hectare. The saline tilapia fingerlings are expected to yield an average harvest weight of around 300 grams per fish. Seaweed cultivation is expected to provide additional income through a relatively short sustainable harvesting cycle. The programme will also be strengthened by mangrove planting in the coastal area surrounding the cultivation site to mitigate coastal abrasion and maintain the sustainability of the coastal ecosystem. At the launch of the Minapadi Salin programme in Batang Regency, 10,000 saline tilapia fingerlings were released, followed by the handover and planting of biosaline rice seeds with local farmers. The first harvest is targeted within approximately three months of planting, with potential productivity of up to 5 kilograms of harvest for every 1 kilogram of seeds sown. After the initial harvest, seaweed cultivation is planned to continue with a gradual sustainable harvesting cycle every 3-4 weeks, aiming to increase land productivity while supporting sustainable community income. Batang Regent M Faiz Kurniawan said the programme is a strategic step in transforming previously less productive saline land into economically valuable agricultural and fishery areas. “This programme not only supports national food security but also opens opportunities to improve the welfare of farmers and coastal communities through the productive use of saline land,” he said.