Farming Seaweed in Kutuh Village
This is the village of South Kuta, in the Kutuh District on the southern coast of Bali.
Almost fifty percent of residents in this part of the Indonesian island depend on seaweed farming for their livelihood.
The type of seaweed that they cultivate is Eucheuma Cottonii, because it yields a higher value on the market compared to other varieties.
The seaweed can be harvested in 45 days.
Seaweed cultivation depends on the climate and season. Low sea water salinity results in slow growth, causing losses for farmers.
“Seaweed farming really depends on the climate and season… Like now, it’s the rainy season, and because water levels have changed, the salt substance is low, and the seaweed is affected. The harvest normally takes 45 days, but now we wait 50 days to harvest.”
Seaweed farming pays just enough to help the locals send their children to college.
“Education for our children is a priority since we are farmers. In the 1970’s and 80’s, it was rare for children to go to university, but now a lot graduate university because of the success of seaweed cultivation. Now, the minimum education our children get here in Kutuh village is high school.”
The freshly harvested seaweed must first be dried under the sun.
Once dry, the seaweed is ready to be marketed. The price of it ranges from one U.S. dollar to a $1.50 per kilogram. Last year’s prices reached two U.S. dollars per kilogram based on today’s dollar value.
NTD News, Kutuh, Bali
Source: http://english.ntdtv.co