How One Of The Rarest Salts In The World Goes From Ocean To Table | Still Standing

Business Insider

2 Dec 202208:28

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe video script tells the story of Gangapura, a 45-year-old salt farmer in the seaside village of Kusamba, Bali, who is part of a dying tradition. Despite the physical demands and low income, she continues the practice passed down for four generations. The process involves carrying heavy baskets of seawater and pouring them onto volcanic sand, which naturally filters the salt. However, the industry is threatened by coastal erosion, weather dependency, and competition from mass-produced salt. Farmers like Gangapura face challenges such as unsold stock and the need for secondary jobs to sustain their livelihood. Despite modern alternatives, they maintain traditional methods like using 'balung' troughs made from coconut tree trunks. The script also mentions the recent geographical indication certificate from the Indonesian government, which could potentially boost international sales and preserve this ancient craft.

Takeaways

🌊 Bali's beaches are renowned for their natural salt harvesting, which is a rare and traditional practice.
👵 Gangapura, a 45-year-old salt farmer, represents the last generation of salt farmers in Kusamba, a seaside village.
💧 Salt farmers use a labor-intensive process of carrying seawater in baskets and pouring it onto volcanic sand to filter out salt.
📉 The income from salt farming is low, leading many to seek better-paying jobs in nearby hotels and tourist spots.
🕗 Salt farming is a daily routine starting at dawn, with farmers like Nunga working tirelessly despite the physical demands.
🌞 The process is weather-dependent, with the rainy season causing significant income loss for farmers.
🏞️ Coastal erosion is a serious threat, with the beach shrinking at an alarming rate, forcing reliance on man-made sea defenses.
🔄 Traditional methods are still used, such as wooden rakes and 'balung' troughs, although some modernization has occurred with synthetic sheets.
☀️ The salt produced is considered higher in nutritional value and has a unique flavor compared to refined table salt.
📉 Despite the high quality, the salt is more expensive than mass-produced salt, making it a luxury item and leading to unsold stock.
📜 The Indonesian government's geographical indication certificate in 2022 is hoped to boost international recognition and export sales.

Q & A

What makes Bali's beaches unique in the context of salt farming?
-Bali's beaches are unique for salt farming because they have some of the rarest and most natural conditions in the world, with volcanic sand that acts like a natural sieve, absorbing water quickly and leaving sun-baked salt flakes on the surface.
Why have many salt farmers in Kusamba left the business?
-Many salt farmers have left the business due to the low income it provides. Better paying jobs at nearby hotels and tourist spots have attracted them, leading to a decline in traditional salt farming.
How does Gangapura, a salt farmer in Kusamba, start her day?
-Gangapura starts her day at six in the morning by leveling sand for about an hour, which is the initial step in the salt farming process.
What is the approximate weight of the baskets of seawater that Gangapura and her husband carry?
-The baskets of seawater that Gangapura and her husband carry can weigh up to 66 pounds.
Why have some farmers replaced buckets with machines for collecting seawater?
-Some farmers have replaced buckets with machines to increase efficiency, as machines can pump water much faster, in just minutes, compared to manual labor.
How does the use of volcanic sand in Kusamba affect the salt production process?
-The volcanic sand in Kusamba absorbs water quickly, leaving salt crystals on the surface. It's important to spread the water evenly to ensure proper crystallization and prevent excessive water in one area.
What challenges do salt farmers face during the rainy season?
-During the rainy season between October and April, farmers can face weeks without income due to the weather conditions being unsuitable for salt production.
What is the impact of coastal erosion on the salt farming beaches in Bali?
-Coastal erosion is causing the beach to shrink at a rate of nearly five meters a year, which is the second worst rate in the region. This forces farmers to rely on man-made sea defenses and threatens the sustainability of salt farming.
Why do salt farmers in Kusamba use troughs called 'balung' in the salt production process?
-The 'balung' troughs are used to hold the concentrated salt water, which then evaporates under the sun, leaving behind pyramid-shaped salt crystals. Traditional balung are made from coconut tree trunks, and their use is part of the cultural heritage of salt farming in Bali.
How does the Indonesian government's geographical indication certificate benefit salt farmers?
-The geographical indication certificate recognizes that the salt from Kusamba comes from a particular place and has a unique reputation. This international prestige can help boost export sales and distinguish the product in the market.
What is the typical monthly production of salt by Kusamba farmers?
-Kusamba farmers typically produce between 300 and 600 kilograms of salt a month.
How does the price of salt produced by Kusamba farmers compare to mass-produced salt?
-Salt produced by Kusamba farmers is sold for about two US dollars per kilo, which is more than three times the price of mass-produced salt found in most grocery stores, making it a luxury item for the majority of people.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Salt Farming in Bali: Tradition and Struggles

The first paragraph introduces Gangapura, a 45-year-old salt farmer in the village of Kusamba, Bali, who represents one of the last practitioners of this traditional craft. It details the laborious process of salt harvesting, which involves carrying heavy baskets of seawater and using volcanic sand to filter the salt. The narrative highlights the challenges faced by salt farmers, including low income leading to a decline in the number of farmers, the physical demands of the work, and the reliance on volatile weather conditions. It also touches on the environmental threats to the beaches, such as erosion, and the modernization of the salt production process through the use of synthetic sheets to speed up water evaporation. The importance of maintaining traditional methods and the role of the local community in supporting these farmers are also discussed.

05:02

🛍️ The Market and Future of Traditional Salt Farming

The second paragraph delves into the market aspects of traditional salt farming. It contrasts the artisanal salt production methods with the mass-produced salt that Indonesia imports, highlighting the economic challenges faced by local farmers due to competition and the high cost of their product. The paragraph also discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism, which is a significant source of income for these farmers. The narrative outlines efforts to bolster the industry, such as obtaining a geographical indication certificate from the Indonesian government to increase international recognition and potentially boost export sales. The paragraph concludes with a note of uncertainty about the future of this traditional trade, as the current generation of farmers may be the last due to the lack of a consistent, livable wage.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Salt farming

Salt farming is the process of producing salt from seawater through natural evaporation. It is a traditional practice that involves carrying seawater and pouring it onto volcanic sand to filter out the salt. In the video, it is the main livelihood of the farmers in the seaside village of Kusamba, Bali, and is depicted as a labor-intensive and time-consuming process.

💡Kusamba

Kusamba is a seaside village in Bali, Indonesia, known for its salt farming tradition. The village's salt production is highlighted in the video as a unique and essential source of income for the local community. It is also a tourist attraction due to its famous volcanic sands.

💡Volcanic sand

Volcanic sand is a type of sand derived from volcanic rocks. In the context of the video, it is used in the salt farming process in Kusamba because of its natural sieving properties that allow for quick water absorption and salt crystallization. The sand is a distinguishing feature of Kusamba's salt, setting it apart from other types of salt production.

💡Traditional methods

Traditional methods refer to the age-old practices used by the salt farmers of Kusamba. These include using baskets to carry seawater, wooden rakes for leveling sand, and 'balung' troughs made from coconut tree trunks for salt crystallization. The video emphasizes the importance of preserving these traditional techniques despite modern alternatives.

💡Balung

Balung are traditional troughs used in the salt farming process. They are mentioned in the video as being made from coconut tree trunks and are essential in giving the salt its name. Balung are also a symbol of the traditional approach to salt production, with some farmers preferring to use them over synthetic sheets.

💡Salt crystallization

Salt crystallization is the process by which salt forms into solid crystals as water evaporates. In the video, it is a critical step in salt farming where seawater is spread evenly on the sand to ensure proper crystallization. The process is dependent on sunny weather conditions and is a key part of the salt harvesting technique.

💡Geographical indication certificate

A geographical indication (GI) certificate is a recognition that a product originates from a specific region and possesses a unique quality or characteristic due to that origin. In the video, Kusamba's salt farmers received a GI certificate from the Indonesian government in 2022, which they hope will boost their international prestige and export sales.

💡Erosion

Erosion is the gradual wearing away of land by natural processes such as wind or water flow. The video discusses how coastal erosion is affecting Kusamba's beach, with a significant退缩 (recession/shrinkage) of 32.74 meters over seven years, posing a threat to the salt farming industry.

💡Tourism

Tourism is a significant part of the local economy in Kusamba and neighboring regions, as highlighted in the video. Tourists are attracted to the area for its volcanic sands and the opportunity to experience the salt farming tradition. However, the decline in tourism due to the pandemic has had a major impact on the salt farmers' income.

💡Salt as a luxury item

In the context of the video, salt from Kusamba is considered a luxury item due to its higher price compared to mass-produced salt. The salt is sold for about two US dollars per kilogram, which is more than three times the price of regular table salt. This pricing is a challenge for the farmers as it limits the market for their product.

💡Competition

Competition refers to the struggle between individuals or groups for limited resources or customers. In the video, Kusamba's salt farmers face stiff competition from imported, cheaper salt that Indonesia brings in annually. This competition makes it difficult for the traditional salt to be sold in larger quantities.

💡Weather dependency

Weather dependency is the reliance on specific weather conditions for a particular activity to take place successfully. The video illustrates that salt farming in Kusamba is heavily dependent on sunny weather for the evaporation process. The rainy season can lead to weeks without income for the farmers, highlighting the precarious nature of their livelihood.

Highlights

Bali's beaches are home to some of the rarest and most natural salt farms in the world.

Salt farming in Kusamba requires immense patience and strength, with farmers like Gangapura carrying heavy baskets of seawater.

The traditional salt farming methods are threatened by modernization and better-paying jobs in the tourism industry.

Gangapura, a 45-year-old salt farmer, represents the last generation maintaining the salt farming tradition in Kusamba.

Salt farmers face harsh working conditions, including long hours and heavy loads, with temperatures reaching up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Volcanic sand in Kusamba is unique, acting as a natural sieve and contributing to the distinct quality of the salt produced there.

Despite the availability of machines, traditional farmers like Nunga continue to use manual labor for water collection.

Salt production is highly dependent on weather, with farmers facing weeks without income during the rainy season.

Coastal erosion is a significant threat, with the beach shrinking nearly five meters a year.

Many salt farmers have taken second jobs due to the uncertainty and risks associated with salt farming.

Nunga is committed to maintaining the traditional salt farming business she inherited from her ancestors.

The use of traditional 'balung' troughs, made from coconut tree trunks, is a key aspect of the salt's identity.

Some farmers have modernized by using synthetic sheets to speed up the water drying process.

Solar evaporation is one of the oldest and most traditional techniques of salt harvesting, resulting in pyramid-shaped salt crystals.

The natural sea salt from Kusamba is considered to have higher nutritional value and a more subtle flavor than refined table salt.

Indonesia imports large quantities of cheaper salt, creating tough competition for traditional salt farmers.

The high price of traditional salt makes it a luxury item, leading to unsold stock and financial challenges for farmers.

The decline in tourism due to the pandemic has had a significant impact on salt farmers who rely on selling to tourists.

In early 2022, salt farmers received a geographical indication certificate from the Indonesian government, which may boost international sales.

Transcripts

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Takeaways

Q & A

What makes Bali's beaches unique in the context of salt farming?

Why have many salt farmers in Kusamba left the business?

How does Gangapura, a salt farmer in Kusamba, start her day?

What is the approximate weight of the baskets of seawater that Gangapura and her husband carry?

Why have some farmers replaced buckets with machines for collecting seawater?

How does the use of volcanic sand in Kusamba affect the salt production process?

What challenges do salt farmers face during the rainy season?

What is the impact of coastal erosion on the salt farming beaches in Bali?

Why do salt farmers in Kusamba use troughs called 'balung' in the salt production process?

How does the Indonesian government's geographical indication certificate benefit salt farmers?

What is the typical monthly production of salt by Kusamba farmers?

How does the price of salt produced by Kusamba farmers compare to mass-produced salt?