Senator Mirah Pushes Sumbawa to Become a Pillar of National Salt Self-Sufficiency, Emphasizes Fishermen Protection and Environmental Sustainability

03 March 2026 oleh admin

Sumbawa, dpd.go.id - Member of The House Regional Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI) from West Nusa Tenggara, Senator Mirah, welcomed and gave full support to the readiness of the Sumbawa Regency Government to become a location for the National Strategic Project (PSN) for the extensification of community salt ponds, specifically in Plampang District. According to her, this step is a strategic momentum to strengthen national independence in the salt sector while increasing the welfare of coastal communities, Tuesday (3/3/2026).

Senator Mirah assessed that the geographical potential and natural resources owned by Sumbawa Regency are comparative advantages not shared by many other regions in Indonesia. With a coastline reaching 980 kilometers and extensive potential for pond land, Sumbawa has a great opportunity to become a national salt production center, especially to support the needs of Eastern Indonesia.

“This program is not just about building salt ponds, but about how the state is present to empower coastal communities, strengthen the local economy, and reduce our dependence on salt imports. Sumbawa has all the prerequisites to become one of the strategic national salt production centers,” said Senator Mirah.

Furthermore, Senator Mirah emphasized that the development of community salt ponds must be based on the principles of sustainability and social justice. She reminded that local communities, especially traditional salt farmers, must be the main actors and primary beneficiaries of the program, rather than just being spectators in their own region.

“I urge the central government to ensure the active involvement of local communities in every stage of this program, from planning and implementation to management. This program must provide a real impact in the form of increased income for farmers, the creation of new jobs, and regional economic growth,” she asserted.

Senator Mirah also expressed her support for the steps taken by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, which is currently conducting a feasibility study on the 10,000 hectares of land prepared by the Sumbawa Regency Government. She hoped that the study process would be conducted comprehensively, transparently, and take into account technical, social, and environmental aspects.

“The study conducted must ensure that the development of these salt ponds is truly feasible, does not damage the coastal ecosystem, and provides long-term benefits. We want sustainable development, not development that sacrifices the future of the environment and the community,” she added.

According to Senator Mirah, if Sumbawa is designated as a PSN location for community salt ponds, it will be an important milestone in Indonesia's efforts to achieve the target of salt self-sufficiency by 2027. Additionally, this program has the potential to make West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) one of the national maritime economic centers capable of making a significant contribution to domestic industrial resilience.

She also reaffirmed her commitment as a regional representative in the DPD RI to continue monitoring this process to ensure it aligns with the interests of the community and the region. Senator Mirah will ensure synergy between the central government, local government, and the community so that this program can be implemented optimally.

“I will continue to oversee and fight to ensure that Sumbawa receives the proper attention and support from the central government. This is a golden opportunity to improve community welfare, strengthen the regional economy, and simultaneously support national independence in the salt sector,” she concluded.

Senator Mirah hopes that all stakeholders can work together to ensure that this program becomes a strategic solution that provides real benefits to the community, strengthens national resilience, and encourages sustainable and inclusive regional development.