Rain Disrupts Early Salt Production in Cirebon

Rainfall is disrupting salt processing productivity in Cirebon Regency, causing the salt crystallisation process to fail. According to information gathered, salt farmers have now entered the early production season. “The activities of salt farmers are currently quite varied,” said Ismail, a salt farmer in Rawaurip Village, Pangenan District, Cirebon Regency, on Thursday (25/6). The majority of salt farmers are still in the land preparation stage, although some have already managed to carry out their first harvest. However, the sudden rain immediately halted their activities. “The rain caused the salt crystallisation process to fail,” Ismail stated. Once it rains, salt fields that had begun production automatically stop. Salt farmers must then wait several days for the land to dry out before resuming production. Besides weather constraints, another problem faced by salt farmers is that the harvest yield at the beginning of this season is still relatively minimal. For a one-hectare plot, productivity during the first harvest has only reached around five quintals. Even though the quantity is still low, the price of salt at the farm level is quite high, ranging from Rp 1,200 to Rp 1,400 per kilogram. “The price of salt is determined by the quality of the salt produced and the distance to the weighing location,” Ismail explained. Salt farmers are now hoping that weather conditions in the coming days will return to normal and stabilise. “Consistent hot weather is essential for the salt crystallisation process to run well and optimally,” Ismail hoped.