Bali administration has targeted to increase seaweed production from the 135,000 tons harvested in 2009 to 150,000 tons in 2010.

Bali has huge potential to develop seaweed as its primary export product, Bali Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Agency chief I Gusti Putu Nuriartha said.

"But, we are facing so many problems in making seaweed a competitive product because of our limited processing skills," he said.

Farmers in several coastal areas in Nusa Penida, Klungkung, Badung and Buleleng regencies harvest two types of seaweed - cottoni and spinosum.

Nusa Penida currently produces the bulk of Bali's seaweed, Nuriartha said.

"The production of seaweed increases every year, but local farmers are still using traditional methods that affect the quality of the products," he said.

During the drying process, for instance, most farmers dry the seaweed on plastic or bamboo mats, but the dried seaweed is often contaminated with sand and stones, Nuriartha said.

"Farmers cannot sell their product at the current market prices," he said. On the local market, seaweed prices are set at Rp 7,000 per kilogram, but Bali farmers could only sell it for between Rp 4,000 to Rp 5,000 per kilogram, Nuriartha said.

To improve the quality of their products, the Bali Trade and Industry Agency has provided 295 drying units for seaweed farmers in Nusa Penida Island in Klungkung regency.

"We will distribute the drying units to other farmers in Buleleng and Badung regencies," he said.

Providing direct access to markets is another way the government is working to help seaweed farmers.

"Farmers sell their product to middlemen, who have power to determine market prices. This is one of the more difficult areas the local government will have to work on," he said.

Made Sarwi, a 40-year-old seaweed farmer from Badung, said the seaweed prices were unstable depending on the quality and market.

"The price of seaweed changes almost every day. Sometimes we get Rp 12,000 per kilogram, but then another day middlemen only pay us Rp 5,000 a kilogram," she said.

Sarwi also said seaweed was affected by seasonal diseases. "If this happens, our harvest can be halved."

Sarwi harvests at least 500 kilograms of seaweed a month.

- JP/ Ni Komang Erviani

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