Research on World Agricultural Economy

The introduction of new production technologies, called geomembrane, is one of the Indonesian government’s national policies aimed at improving the quality and quantity of domestic salt production while supporting the national self-sufficiency program. Madura Island, the largest producer of evaporated salt in Indonesia, was the first location targeted for this policy implementation. Using cross-sectional data from the 2023–2024 salt production season, this study randomly collected information from 215 small- to medium-scale salt farmers on Madura Island. The research highlighted the importance of ensuring salt farmers’ access to demplots to encourage wider adoption of geomembrane technology and its impact on salt production performance. Production performance was measured using technical efficiency and land productivity indicators. The findings reveal that salt farmers’ access to geomembrane demonstration plots remains limited, with only 29% of farmers reporting such access. Interestingly, access to demonstration plots exhibited an anomalous relationship with production performance: while technical efficiency showed a positive correlation, land productivity demonstrated a negative association. This research concluded that the demonstration plots provide significant differences in technical efficiency and productivity. The study recommends that the Indonesian government, through the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Agency, should continue providing training, outreach, and technological introductions to salt farmers to expand demonstration plot access to increase the adoption rate of geomembrane technology. Demonstration plots should be situated near impoverished communities that rely on traditional salt production methods or in locations traditionally designated for pilot programs to ensure productivity gains for marginalized and low-income households.