Mapping Study on Market Potential and Market Chain for Seaweed in Alor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province

Abstract

Seaweed is a significant economic product that should be promoted. A transparent trading system, which is intended to support the growth and development of seaweed production on a greater scale, is one of the main criteria for providing stronger value to cultivators. This is a benefit that the Indonesian people, in general, can take advantage of to their fullest potential. In June 2021, a survey will be conducted in Alor Regency, Nusa Tenggara Timur Province, to map market potential and market chains. Seaweed farmers and traders interested in seaweed marketing made up the study’s population. The sampling method used the snowball sampling method, namely the first level sampling, in this case, was seaweed farmers determined by simple random sampling, while the next sample, in this case, was traders determined by farmers where farmer s who had selected are identified (excavated data). The goal of doing a market chain research and business strategy for seaweed commodities is to have a more complete picture of the potential, obstacles, and restrictions of developing seaweed production in the Alor Regency. Based on observations and interviews with farmers, it appears that the seaweed marketing chain begins with producers as seaweed farmers, followed by middleman traders (village collectors), i. e. traders who buy directly from village farmers. Also, there are inter-island collectors/collectors (PAP), who are traders who purchase seaweed from middlemen/seaweed collector traders and also farmers, most of whom are based in Alor, the sub-district capital. Collector traders have a great deal of money, so they can keep seaweed temporarily as they wait for a reasonable price or a better price.