Jakarta ( WNAM MONITORING): The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has proposed a budget of around Rp25 billion (approximately US$1.49 million) to revitalize salt ponds damaged by floods in Aceh.
“This will be part of our recovery program,” the ministry’s Director General of Marine Management, Koswara, told the press in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He emphasized that while the ministry is committed to revitalizing the affected salt ponds, the implementation is still awaiting budget approval from the House of Representatives (DPR).
Koswara also explained that the recovery program is not limited to merely salt production; it will also cover other marine and fisheries sectors, such as fish ponds.
“It covers areas impacted within the ministry’s jurisdiction. We are currently in the process of proposing the budget,” he added.
Previously, The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries reported that salt ponds across eight districts in Aceh were damaged by floods.
These districts are Aceh Besar, East Aceh, South Aceh, Southwest Aceh, North Aceh, Pidie, Pidie Jaya, and Bireuen.
The ministry’s Director of Marine Resources, Frista Yorhanita, noted that the majority of salt ponds in those regions were submerged.
“In addition to the ponds, there is damage to the salt tunnels. Roughly 50 percent of the processed boiled salt has also been ruined,” she said.
Aceh currently has 11 salt production centers, including those in Aceh Besar, Pidie, Pidie Jaya, Bireuen, East Aceh, South Aceh, and Southwest Aceh.
In Pidie District, local authorities recorded that community-run salt ponds covered 37.18 hectares in 2025, involving 413 farmers.
Salt production in the district reached 5,083 tons in 2024, while Aceh’s total salt production reached 12,380 tons in the same year.
